Warner Music claims Lessig is a pirate, has his presentation taken off YouTube

Last night, Larry Lessig tweeted that Warner Music had sent a takedown notice to YouTube over one of his presentations, claiming that it infringed their copyright. Lessig, of course, is one of the nation's leading legal scholars, particularly when it comes to fair use and electronic media. His presentations are filled with examples of companies like Warner sending bogus takedowns over fair-use inclusion of their copyrights in YouTube videos. And there's a burgeoning body of law that affords stiff penalties to companies that send these bogus takedowns.

Oh, this should be good.

@lessig on Twitter

Previously:

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Anonymous

Every time I consider buying music again, the recording industry reminds why I stopped.
Sentinal

Professor Farnsworth: Yes? I see.
Professor Farnsworth: Good news, everyone! Those asinine morons who canceled us were themselves fired for incompetence.
Professor Farnsworth: And not just fired, but beaten up, too… and pretty badly.
Professor Farnsworth: In fact, most of them died from their injuries.
Professor Farnsworth: And then they were ground up into a fine pink powder.
Fry: Why?
Professor Farnsworth: Oh, it’s got a million and one uses.
Professor Farnsworth: Aw, that soothes the fire.
Leela: [referring to both the numerous air conditioners and the admirers of Futurama] So what does this mean for us and our many fans?
Professor Farnsworth: It means we’re back on the air!
Professor Farnsworth: Yes, flying on the air in our mighty spaceship!
Bender: We’re back, baby!
HornCologne

/me rubs hands together in glee, follows @lessig on Twitter, buys a six-pack and joins the line to make popcorn …

We are all rooting for you, Mr. Lessig!
zikman

god bless larry lessig
Anonymous

Nice.

I got one of these from a music industry scumsucker because I posted a link to a radio show completely unrelated. So ruining them is fine by me. :)
dculberson

I can’t help but thing of this snippet of Pulp Fiction dialog:

“Boy, I wish I could’ve caught him doing it. I’d have given anything to catch that asshole doing it. It’d been worth him doing it just so I could’ve caught him doing it.”

Oh, this should be good.
Dillenger69

I hate the word “preso” … whoever decided that was a good word to use instead of “presentation” deserves a punch in the throat.
Gilbert Wham

Personally, I’m makin’ pizza. Mmmmmmmmm, pizza and schadenfreude…
macbrak

somebody make some popcorn…
Blaine

Shit just got REAL!
Anonymous

@#6 Lessig knows what he’s doing and will set up some good precedence with this case. So if he wins (I’m assuming he will) It will mean many, many more fines for them in the future.
Blue Tyson

I’ve had a bogus takedown, so lets hear it for working on the punishment for such.
thewinchester

@MACBRAK I’ll take you up on some popcorn, I’ll bring the fairy floss and ice cream – this’ll be brilliant to watch.
nerak

time warner has money spewing from their assholes, i’m not so sure they care about the consequences.
Cyberwasteland

Irony thou name is Warner Music.
A New Challenger

Another quote that comes to mind

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”
LX

Let’s see how this rolls…
eclectro

It does not mean anything unless there are consequences. Warner music obviously thinks there are none.
ill lich

Let’s be optimistic, and assume that Warner was just trying to help him illustrate a point.
bkofford

Section 107 (http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap1.html#107)along with related personal comments sent via http://www.wmg.com/contact#contacts-main
whiterabbit2009

>stiff penalties to companies that send these bogus takedowns.

so what? Are you saying this is a bogus takedown? what makes it bogus? Are you suggesting the material is not copyrighted by Warner?

Maybe a judge would rule that Lessig’s use is Fair Use, in that case then maybe he can get YouTube to reinstate it. But can he get penalties from Warner? of course not! Nothing about their claim is “bogus”. It’s just that they feel like it’s infringement, so it’s now up to a judge to decide. But they did nothing wrong.
Jenonymous

Me three RE popcorn, cheering squad, etc. Talk about bringing the fight home…I can’t wait to read the court transcripts of this case.
Mr. Protocol

It should be good, but it probably won’t be. The DMCA treats bogus takedown notices as perjury, and no prosecutor wants to waste his time chasing perjury charges.

Nor does any election-facing, political-winds-chasing prosecutor want to take on the RIAA.

Nothing will come of this.
phosphors

Anybody know what the content in the video was that offended Warner? Lessig prob doesn’t even know but just curious…
Jenonymous

Gilbert,

Schadenfreude…goes great on popcorn also! :D
Alexandre Van de Sande

Lessig for copyright Czar!