Video clips from The Simpsons, Family Guy and other Fox TV shows appearing on Google Video could cause problems for the network's deal between its News Corp. and Google for the right to supply search features and advertising to MySpace, which is owned by News Corp. A Fox spokeswoman told MarketWatch: "What you see on 'Family Guy' and 'The Simpsons' is not part of that agreement," referring to Google Video's arrangement to distribute episodes of Vanished and Prison Break.

"She added that it's likely the company will soon ask Google to remove this and other clips pointed out to her by a reporter," MarketWatch journalist Ben Charny wrote. However, Google, which now allows users to easily post videos on MySpace pages, has little control over those features, Mr. Charny noted, preferring a policy in which it only removes content when copyright holders complain.

Google spokeswoman Jennifer Hakes told Mr. Charny regarding the Fox flap: "In this particular instance, we have no history of request for removal of the videos. When we receive notice of allegedly infringing content from the copyright holder or their authorized representatives, we immediately put in motion the notice and takedown procedures."

Problems between Google and Fox could spill over into talks reportedly going on now between the search engine giant and Apple, Mr. Charny noted.