So they did it. Despite the warnings of corporate lawyers and internet icons like Mark Cuban and Jason Calacanis, Google has bought YouTube for more than one billion dollars. Here’s the official announcement :

“Google announced today that it has agreed to acquire YouTube, the consumer media company for people to watch and share original videos through a Web experience, for $1.65 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction. Following the acquisition, YouTube will operate independently to preserve its successful brand and passionate community. […]”

It should be said that Jason has since come round and now applauds Google’s move, largely, he says, because Google is the only bigco that could make it work.

We shall see.