Milan - Italian broadcaster Mediaset announced on Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit against Google's (NASD: GOOG) YouTube, seeking at least $779 million in damages for illicit use of its audio and video content. The company, which is controlled by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, said that a survey of YouTube on June 10 found 4,643 clips of its programming on the site -- which it estimated was the equivalent of over 315,000 lost broadcasting days.

"YouTube respects copyright holders and takes copyright issues very seriously. There is no need for legal action and all the associated costs," the company said in a statement to Reuters.

Along with Mediaset, YouTube is also being sued by Spain's Telecinco and France's TF1, and also still faces a $1 billion copyright suit brought by Viacom (NYSE: VIA).

Related Links:
http://snipurl.com/37sz0 (Mediaset statement)

http://snipurl.com/37szk (Reuters)

http://snipurl.com/37szo (Bloomberg)