About Me
H. Elwood Gilliland III invented the YouTube brand.
WikiLeaks.org has a complete copy of all Gilliland v. Hurley 2010 case-related documents (with some financial information obscured), including a copy of this blog. Of course, they have extended an offer to pay for the undisclosed paper file to be shipped to their data warehouses.
This site is dedicated to the truth about YouTube's origins. It covers with the many lies told by its co-founders, and the hidden truths about YouTube including the origins of its logo, brand, and concept.
The main author of the site is Herbert Elwood Gilliland III, the guy who actually thought up YouTube. He's not lying and he's not rich for inventing it.
This site is in no way affiliated with nor endorsed by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, Jawed Karim, Google, PayPal, or YouTube.
I'm looking for someone to help write and/or publish a book about my experiences. You can contact me at herb dot gilliland-at-gmail dot com
This entire site is about drawing a chalk outline around my role in the development of YouTube as a social revolution. If you'd like to read more about me, you can view my work history at LinkedIn.
Here's a picture of what it felt like:
1/27/2010 - detail
The pain of it all: taken 1/27/2010
July 13th, 2010 - 19:13
If you had the funding for discovery and whatnot, could you open this case back up? Or is it closed forever?
July 13th, 2010 - 22:47
Dear Richard,
Thank you for posting a comment. Civil litigation of this sort was slighted against me from the very beginning. I had only 1 chance to prove it. They were given 2 appeals if I were to have won initially, and numerous ways to circumvent or counteract legal proceedings.
Even with permission to enter discovery, there are numerous legal pitfalls which would make it very difficult for me to actually get any money or remuneration. My wonderful attorney Mr. Monts had hoped to reveal more direct information by deposing Chad and Steve on May 6, 2010. Unfortunately, that information will never be provided unless volunteered by the co-founding trio. The only way I would ever see any action by Google again regarding this would be to somehow become more famous and powerful than the millionaires and billionaires at Google, or something equally miraculous (like happen to save one of their lives or cure the world’s disease, provide immortality for all people, stop world hunger by inventing the world’s perfect food which simultaneously cured obesity and diabetes). I’m sure they’d apologize if any of those miracles occurred.
To me, it’s never really “closed” — I will always live with the horrible regret and pain caused by my interactions with them — which includes the ridicule and embarrassment I experience when I tell my tale to certain naysayers and skeptics both in public, in the media and in private — as a legal suit it is no longer on the docket for any sort of “justice” dispensed by a court of law.
I have a particular disdain for Chad, since he grew up so close by and we share commonalities (my stepmother works at our local public school, as his mother and sister do). He sort of hurried up and stole the money and now has no idea what to do with it — you know, all the cars and women and what-not – the enduring fakeness he exudes combined with his complete lack of vision. As for Mr. Chen, I know very little about him. I think had he known me better he would have been more generous.
Kind regards,
Herbert
September 8th, 2010 - 03:42
This comment isn’t really addressed to Herbert or any one particular person. It is for everyone in our field who has been used or wronged by others. There’s a lot of that going around. Not nearly as bad as the world of finance and banking, though.
I wasn’t anywhere near the events during YT’s creation and so cannot make any informed comment about who did or did not do what to whom.
What I can comment on is how it seems like the world of software development, and especially the dot com part of that, seems to be littered with people who have footprints all over their backs made by those who couldn’t possibly have moved any faster to climb all over acquaintances and supposed friends in order to cash in on the ideas and/or work of others.
I have tremendous sympathy for the many victims. In a more fair world, things would be different.
In my more hopeful moments, I like to think that we are stumbling and groping towards a way to create that more fair world.
I also know that those who did the trampling over the backs of others sometimes were partly – sometimes even wholly – involved in a genuine case of misunderstanding or miscommunication. Some are just flat-out guilty of the worst ethics. Some at least have the good grace to _feel_ guilty, even though they are probably afraid to admit anything out loud. And some few feel absolutely no guilt at all, and pat themselves on their backs for being what they think of as “winners” when really they’re the exact opposite.
The best revenge is living well, and living well almost by definition includes not feeling bitter or angry. That tiny nugget of advice is about the most help I can offer the many who have been wronged. Dad always said that things, including advice, are often worth about what you have to pay for them. Well, I’ve paid a high price in experience for that nugget, but I’m willing to give it away for free. I’m not saying don’t seek justice, nor don’t punish wrongdoing. We should always seek justice, and wrongdoing should always be deterred. But we don’t have to be bitter or angry about it.
–Laning
“What’s so funny ’bout peace, love, and understanding?” -Nick Lowe
September 18th, 2010 - 12:19
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq4A1uCQ1w0