Paris - French broadcaster TF1 is preparing copyright infringement and unfair competition lawsuits against video-sharing sites Dailymotion and YouTube, which will seek a total of $217 million in damages, Variety reports.

TF1 alleges that the sites have caused it to lose up to $97,000 in ad revenues and download sales per episode of "Heroes," which it has the Internet rights for in France, and also takes issue with the posting of its news broadcasts online.

The broadcaster further alleges that the sites are failing to prevent piracy.

Dailymotion legal affairs director Giuseppe di Martino told French magazine Le Point that TF1's demands are excessive and unreasonable.

Related Links:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977699.html

http://www.tf1.fr

http://www.dailymotion.com