You've probably heard by now that YouTube—one of the most popular Web destinations after just two years online—is being sued for a billion dollars by Viacom, the parent company of MTV and Comedy Central.

Viacom its copyright is being violated because YouTube is letting its users post Viacom video clips.

Despite the legal protest, we were able to find plenty of MTV and Comedy Central video clips to watch on YouTube Wednesday morning.

YouTube (now owned by Google and increasingly referred to as "GooTube") maintains that it is operating within the law.

This is a case that may never go to trial. There are observers who see Viacom's legal move as a ploy to extract more favorable terms from YouTube for a formal agreement to utilize its content.

Both CBS (which, until last year, was part of Viacom) and NBC have already embraced YouTube as a way to help generate buzz for their programs. Even though the networks operate their own Web sites, each has created a lively section on YouTube to showcase clips, and many of those videos rank among the most popular on YouTube.

How about some free music? We're talking about your own personalized radio station here.

I created my own "smooth jazz" station on Slacker, a new online music service.

It lets you select from more than 10,000 musical categories—including Rock, Classic Rock, Country, Oldies, individual artists, and even a special South by Southwest channel. You can then fine-tune the results by "voting" on Slacker's choices. Clicking on the "heart" symbol tells the service you'd like to hear more from that artist; clicking the "no" symbol lets Slacker know you can do without that tune.

While you can find similar radio-like services on the Internet (I've been a fan of one that Yahoo Music offers), Slacker says it will be different, because you won't always be tied down to a computer.

It is developing portable devices, apparently similar to an iPod, that will automatically update your playlists wirelessly whenever you're near a WiFi connection.

Slacker says the gizmos will be available early this summer, priced starting at $150. It also has plans for a device to send the music via satellite to autos.

The basic Slacker service—which you can try right now—is free. The company envisions a premium service, for $7.50 a month, that eliminates advertising and gives users more options.

Apple currently sells about two out of every three portable music players, and there's no reason to think that Slacker's offering will erode that figure. But for those who don't have the time or inclination to sort through music collections or download and organize new tunes, Slacker is a blessing.

Wouldn't it be funny if Sanjaya Malakar turns out to be the next "American Idol"?

Millions know him as one of the finalists on Fox's very popular contest in which viewers pick the winner of a sing-off.

And he'll be the winner if VoteForTheWorst.com has anything to do with it.

The site has anointed Malakar as its pick for the candidate that American Idol's producers would least like to see come out on top.

Previous recommendations by VoteForTheWorst.com include Taylor Hicks, who last year won the "American Idol" contest.

Coincidence?

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