The site took down nearly 30,000 files after complaints from a Japanese entertainment group.
Lucasfilm has taken a stand against the removal of fan videos from Youtube in the recent past, but in the end the choice is really up to Youtube – or Google, who’s now holding the purse strings. Pressure from entertainment organizations could easily ruin the fun for everyone, even when the copyright holder doesn’t object. Or have an official deal in place with Youtube/Google… which may be unlikely for LFL, as they already have an existing deal with Atom Films. (Although… Who knows? I don’t know what LFL’s contracts say.)
I suppose it was only a matter of time, damn my optimism. On the other hand, would Google really buy Youtube just to let it go the way of Napster…?