Their staff has ENCOURAGED posting of MTV programming content to YouTube without individual approval. They wanted "water cooler" moments spread through viral email networks (you get it, laugh, and send it to a friend).
(MTV) Video Awards Seek Jolt From Crowd and Internet (hoping for anarchy and chaos?) (NY Times Published: August 24, 2006 By BEN SISARIO)
“He should be encouraged at all points to storm the stage and to create a television moment that people will talk about at the water cooler the next day,” said Hamish Hamilton, one of the producers. “Or even better, that people will download and put on YouTube the next day.”
Bingo.
Viacom Then & Now; Ruling Puts YouTube Viewers At Risk
http://uspolitics.about.com/b/2008/07/03/viacom-then-ruling-puts-youtube-viewers-at-risk.htm
Of interest:
http://obambi.wordpress.com/2008/07/03/viacom/