Look for MySpace to soon play a much bigger role in helping News Corp monetize its Web properties. That's according to a particularly bullish report issued this morning by brokerage house Merrill Lynch.

Aiming to make its Web site more interactive, USA Today has redesigned its site to feature user-created material far more prominently than before.

Several weeks ago, Viacom famously demanded that YouTube purge a trove of clips from the site not actually owned by the media company. As it turns out, Viacom isn't the only one to wrongly ask for clips' removal from YouTube. A self-described inventor of the "Electric Slide" dance steps also recently demanded that YouTube take down a clip showing audience members at a concert performing the dance, according to a new lawsuit by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Some people might perceive click fraud as a major drawback to search advertising, but Google's Shuman Ghosemajumder, business product manager for trust & safety, maintains the company has the situation under control.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has joined the ranks of companies taking issue with YouTube. Variety reports that the Academy demanded the purge of all Oscar-related clips, including the opening monologue by host Ellen DeGeneres and Will Ferrell's musical act -- which were among YouTube's most viewed clips. (Variety reports that the clips had been deleted, but they appeared to have resurfaced on YouTube as of Wedneday morning.)

AOL is in talks to buy mobile ad company Third Screen Media for as much as $80 million, according to The Wall Street Journal. News of the talks comes several months after discussions between Third Screen and Microsoft failed, according to published reports.

Google is gearing up to expand a test of its video syndication, adding Dow Jones and Condé Nast to its roster of publishers, according to a report in today's New York Times.

A federal appellate court is getting ready to decide whether Google's method of selling paid search ads violates trademark law. Specifically, the computer repair company Rescuecom charges that its trademark is violated when business rivals use its name to trigger paid search ads.

Microsoft apparently is gearing up to enter the video-sharing space in a much bigger way. The company, which is testing the video site "Soapbox," also apparently recently mulled purchasing Revver, according to a report in CNET's News.com.

When Google announced last October it was purchasing YouTube, it appeared as if the companies were fast on their way to forging alliances with major TV and record companies. But Google and at least some TV companies appear to have reached an impasse.