Google to start renting videos?
The new terms of service suggest that they will be adding the ability to download videos rather than simply streaming them. Some users have already taken this feature into their own hands by creating easy ways to download videos directly from Google Video -- which I might add is definitely against the terms of use.
Even more interesting, numerous mentions of "renting" is scattered throughout the new terms which suggests that they could be getting closer to providing pay-per-view or similar service -- of course that would involve some sort of payment system in place (Google Purchases). Below I have highlighted some of the updates that can be found in the new agreement.
3. Use of Content. By entering into this Agreement and uploading, sending or otherwise making available Your Authorized Content to Google, you are directing and authorizing Google to, and granting Google a royalty-free, non-exclusive right and license to, host, cache, route, transmit, store, copy, modify, distribute, perform, display, reformat, excerpt, facilitate the sale or rental of copies of, analyze, and create algorithms based on the Authorized Content in order to (i) host the Authorized Content
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available to You no sooner than at the time Google enables any of the features designated on the Video Information Page This license gives Google the right to display Your Authorized Content via streaming and/or downloading technologies, and to display limited excerpts of Your Authorized Content for no fee to the end user. Google may in its sole discretion display a link or links to the website You designate (subject to Google's approval) in the Metadata Form in connection with any display of Your Authorized Content, and to display links to third party commercial retailer web sites where purchases of the Authorized Content may be available, to the extent such third party commercial retailer web site serves as a distributor of the Authorized Content. You expressly agree that any and all links provided by You shall function properly and effectively to allow end users to transfer immediately to the intended and indicated site(s), and that You are solely responsible for maintaining and updating as necessary any such links.
The "Payment" section was also heavily updated to give more detail about payment to publishers who choose to sell (or rent) their videos. These updates resemble the current structure of AdSense.
8. Payment. You may designate a purchase and/or rental price in the Metadata Form that end users must pay in order to download Your Authorized Content.
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. Provided You have registered for the Program and have provided all necessary information to Google in order for Us to make payments to You, Payments to You shall be sent by Google within approximately thirty (30) days after the end of any calendar quarter, at a minimum; provided that (i) Your earned balance is $100 or more and (ii) this Agreement has been in effect for at least sixty (60) days in that quarter. If Your earned balance is less than $100 but greater than $1, Google will pay Your earned balance within approximately thirty (30) days following the end of the calendar year or the end of the calendar quarter in which You earn a balance of over $100, whichever comes first. In the event that this Agreement is terminated, Google shall pay Your earned balance to You within approximately ninety (90) days after the end of the calendar month in which Google recognizes that the Agreement has been terminated, but in no event shall Google make payments for any earned balance less than $10. All references herein to dollars shall be to United States dollars. Google reserves the right to retain all other revenues derived from Google services. The number of purchases and/or rentals of Your Authorized Content, as reported by Google, shall be the number used in calculating payments hereunder, if any.
To compare the two agreements yourself, you can view the previous terms of service here and the new one is found within the video upload area.