As expected, Universal Music Group has thoroughly ignored video site Veoh’s attempts to prevent the record label from suing it and has filed a complaint in federal court accusing the Michael Eisner-backed company of copyright infringement, according to Bloomberg. In its suit, filed in U.S. District Court for California’s Northern District in San Jose, UMG said Veoh is following in the “ignominious footsteps of other recent mass infringers such as Napster” and that the only way to stop its alleged violations is to hold the individuals who run the site financially responsible.

As we noted early last month, UMG informed Veoh that it was considering a suit because of the “massive” copyright infringement taking place by the site’s users. UMG did not specifically refer to any unauthorized material. In response, Bloomberg added, Veoh asked the same federal court to block any forthcoming UMG suit, saying it was preventing illegal activity by barring access or taking down copyrighted content. Veoh also claimed that because of its policing efforts, federal law protects internet service providers from infringement charges.

Aside from its battle with UMG, Veoh is due back in federal court on Friday to face similar infringement charges from adult content purveyor IO Group, which sued the video site last year.

-- Update: In an email statement, Steve Mitgang, Veoh’s CEO, said UMG’s action “reflects their limited understanding of Veoh and of the online video space as a whole.” He added that Veoh is
considered DMCA-compliant and is currently working “with major media companies” and the Motion Picture Association of America on developing standards for copyright protection. “It’s unfortunate that UMG prefers to continue their pattern of litigation rather than contribute to the important discussions going on within our industry.”

• Veoh Files Pre-Emptive Suit Against UMG; Still Battling Other Infringement Suit