Comments on: YouTube blocks clip of Michelle Obama's DNC speech on copyright grounds http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 18:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Valery King http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1527416 Valery King Sat, 08 Sep 2012 00:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1527416 For pity's sake, it's NEWS! this is obviously Fair Use. I'm so pissed about these frivolous "copyright infringement" claims when there are some real content thieves out there who should be taken down. For pity’s sake, it’s NEWS! this is obviously Fair Use. I’m so pissed about these frivolous “copyright infringement” claims when there are some real content thieves out there who should be taken down.

]]> By: Chip Cogswelle http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1526561 Chip Cogswelle Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1526561 YouTube allows copyright trolls to make false claims which benefit the claimer and YouTube. On several occasions, I have posted videos with background music that is in the public domain (over 100 years old, performed by U.S. Military Bands), and MULTIPLE claims were made. I contested them, the claims were dropped, but I'm sure many people just let them post ads, etc. because it isn't worth the hassle. It is wrong, and would seem to go against the "Do No EVIL" that Google likes to quote. It really is a travesty of the concept of "public domain," and could be corrected if Google really cared about something besides profit. Well, I'll admit, as a publicly traded company, why should they care about anything else? Never mind. YouTube allows copyright trolls to make false claims which benefit the claimer and YouTube. On several occasions, I have posted videos with background music that is in the public domain (over 100 years old, performed by U.S. Military Bands), and MULTIPLE claims were made. I contested them, the claims were dropped, but I’m sure many people just let them post ads, etc. because it isn’t worth the hassle. It is wrong, and would seem to go against the “Do No EVIL” that Google likes to quote. It really is a travesty of the concept of “public domain,” and could be corrected if Google really cared about something besides profit. Well, I’ll admit, as a publicly traded company, why should they care about anything else? Never mind.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1526437 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1526437 Presumably the DNC has primary ownership of content of their convention. Presumably the DNC has primary ownership of content of their convention.

]]> By: bwcbwc http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1526394 bwcbwc Thu, 06 Sep 2012 21:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1526394 Now here's a question: Who actually DOES own the copyright to that particular clip of Ms. Obama's speech. She's not a government employee and it's not a work produced by the government, so it's certainly not public domain. Who shot the video? Now here’s a question: Who actually DOES own the copyright to that particular clip of Ms. Obama’s speech. She’s not a government employee and it’s not a work produced by the government, so it’s certainly not public domain. Who shot the video?

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1526046 EH Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1526046 It's the financial regulation structure redux. "Build your own shitty mechanism and we'll leave you alone." It’s the financial regulation structure redux. “Build your own shitty mechanism and we’ll leave you alone.”

]]> By: ryukage99 http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525771 ryukage99 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 05:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525771 Just think about the regular folks who run into problems like these. Just think about the regular folks who run into problems like these.

]]> By: wilmcdaniel http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525572 wilmcdaniel Wed, 05 Sep 2012 23:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525572 Vimeo anyone? Vimeo anyone?

]]> By: ellen_h http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525552 ellen_h Wed, 05 Sep 2012 23:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525552 Who has the most to gain by blocking Michelle Obama's fantastic speech video? They must be really scared... Who has the most to gain by blocking Michelle Obama’s fantastic speech video? They must be really scared…

]]> By: BillStewart2012 http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525488 BillStewart2012 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 22:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525488 Unfortunately, the Democrats seem to be even more into this copyright over-extension nonsense than the Republicans do.  So no, it's not going to have any more effect on Obama's policies than getting a whiff of diesel smoke would have had on Bush. <i>But still, Bwahahahah!</i> Unfortunately, the Democrats seem to be even more into this copyright over-extension nonsense than the Republicans do.  So no, it’s not going to have any more effect on Obama’s policies than getting a whiff of diesel smoke would have had on Bush.

But still, Bwahahahah!

]]> By: CaptainPedge http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525354 CaptainPedge Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525354 http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/04/tech/web/hugo-awards-gaiman-ustream/index.html Twice in 2 days. Way to go copyright trolls http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/04/tech/web/hugo-awards-gaiman-ustream/index.html
Twice in 2 days. Way to go copyright trolls

]]> By: Florian Bösch http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525348 Florian Bösch Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525348 Sorry, the joke was blocked by the copycensorbot. All hail Copynet and perish. Sorry, the joke was blocked by the copycensorbot. All hail Copynet and perish.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525338 EH Wed, 05 Sep 2012 19:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525338 That's not how the joke goes. That’s not how the joke goes.

]]> By: Daniel Tobias http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525312 Daniel Tobias Wed, 05 Sep 2012 18:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525312 Isn't there somebody who can be sued over these things?  A few awards of punitive damages would greatly chill the use of such indiscriminate blocking. Isn’t there somebody who can be sued over these things?  A few awards of punitive damages would greatly chill the use of such indiscriminate blocking.

]]> By: jandrese http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525308 jandrese Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525308 Why would copyright holders include something that looks like a check on power in a system they designed?  If the government (FCC) had any balls they would require systems like this to have a false claim penalty, but they're in bed with the copyright holders on this one.  The FCC is basically trusting that the RIAA, MPAA, et. all. will stand by their promise to be truthful and accurate, much the same way the FTC deals with investment banks.  I mean it's not like the MPAA would want to sully its reputation with the public, right?  Just like how Bank of America certainly wouldn't do anything that might hurt its reputation.  Why would copyright holders include something that looks like a check on power in a system they designed?  If the government (FCC) had any balls they would require systems like this to have a false claim penalty, but they’re in bed with the copyright holders on this one.  The FCC is basically trusting that the RIAA, MPAA, et. all. will stand by their promise to be truthful and accurate, much the same way the FTC deals with investment banks. 

I mean it’s not like the MPAA would want to sully its reputation with the public, right?  Just like how Bank of America certainly wouldn’t do anything that might hurt its reputation. 

]]> By: Elliottw256 http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525290 Elliottw256 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525290 It seems like the heavyweights (corporations) would have something to say about this. Here's another one from earlier this year: http://submit.boingboing.net/2012/02/fake-takedown-notice-from-nfl-to-youtube-causes-chrysler-ad-to-be-removed.html It seems like the heavyweights (corporations) would have something to say about this. Here’s another one from earlier this year:

http://submit.boingboing.net/2012/02/fake-takedown-notice-from-nfl-to-youtube-causes-chrysler-ad-to-be-removed.html

]]> By: Florian Bösch http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525280 Florian Bösch Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525280 It's better, it compresses to zilch (tm). It's zero bytes. Null, zip, nada. It’s better, it compresses to zilch ™. It’s zero bytes. Null, zip, nada.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525277 EH Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525277 Oh, go away and make that joke about repeated compression reducing something down to a single number that's been around since the 80s. Oh, go away and make that joke about repeated compression reducing something down to a single number that’s been around since the 80s.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525274 EH Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525274 To be sure, this is all free R&D for YT's filtering processes, which I predict will someday be incorporated by reference into federal law. To be sure, this is all free R&D for YT’s filtering processes, which I predict will someday be incorporated by reference into federal law.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525271 EH Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525271 If it was a matter for the government, sure, but this is the result of an unaccountable company policy that is out of reach of the courts. In other words: SUCK IT If it was a matter for the government, sure, but this is the result of an unaccountable company policy that is out of reach of the courts.

In other words: SUCK IT

]]> By: Florian Bösch http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525264 Florian Bösch Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525264 Let me introduce to you our new exciting technology to enforce copyright. We're fond of calling it /dev/null, and it's amazing. You can stick anything in, and it never comes out again ever. The content is 100% perfectly protected, and nobody will ever see it. You should try /dev/null (patent pending), it's amazing. Let me introduce to you our new exciting technology to enforce copyright. We’re fond of calling it /dev/null, and it’s amazing. You can stick anything in, and it never comes out again ever. The content is 100% perfectly protected, and nobody will ever see it. You should try /dev/null (patent pending), it’s amazing.

]]> By: cegev http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525262 cegev Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525262 Given the high political profile of many videos that have been blocked recently, one has to wonder whether Google and other companies are intentionally not fixing the system in order to send a political message.  Automated blocking is going to unfairly block videos that don't infringe on anything. If the videos happen to be of Michelle Obama / a major NASA event / etc, though, it's going to be noticed far more than otherwise, and might influence future policy decisions on infringement and enforcement. Given the high political profile of many videos that have been blocked recently, one has to wonder whether Google and other companies are intentionally not fixing the system in order to send a political message. 
Automated blocking is going to unfairly block videos that don’t infringe on anything. If the videos happen to be of Michelle Obama / a major NASA event / etc, though, it’s going to be noticed far more than otherwise, and might influence future policy decisions on infringement and enforcement.

]]> By: Egypt Urnash http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525260 Egypt Urnash Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525260 I guess this is the week for these systems breaking horribly. This weekend, the Hugo livestream cut out abruptly because this sort of thing triggered on the three successive trailers for the episodes of "Doctor Who" that were up for a rocket. And never came back; all anyone outside the auditorium (including people at the con who couldn't make it inside) got to see were the memorial for people who died last year and "Best Podcast". <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/blog/2012/09/03/hugo-awards-an-apology-and-explanation/" rel="nofollow">Ustream has apologized</a> but it's still clearly a problem. Honestly I'm surprised it hasn't shown up as news here yet! Ustream is using <a href="http://www.vobileinc.com/" rel="nofollow">Vobile</a> to do this; I wonder if Youtube is using them as well. I guess this is the week for these systems breaking horribly. This weekend, the Hugo livestream cut out abruptly because this sort of thing triggered on the three successive trailers for the episodes of “Doctor Who” that were up for a rocket. And never came back; all anyone outside the auditorium (including people at the con who couldn’t make it inside) got to see were the memorial for people who died last year and “Best Podcast”.

Ustream has apologized but it’s still clearly a problem. Honestly I’m surprised it hasn’t shown up as news here yet!

Ustream is using Vobile to do this; I wonder if Youtube is using them as well.

]]> By: bardfinn http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525250 bardfinn Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525250 The thing is, many* of them are making false copyright claims - the footage taken with their cameras, pumped through their equipment, marked up and commented upon by their talent, is theirs. The broken part comes when 1: multiple people have valid copyright and copyright exemption claims on extremely similar material; and 2: the copyright enforcement algorithm doesn't / can't understand that. *originally I wrote "none" -- I retract that. The thing is, many* of them are making false copyright claims – the footage taken with their cameras, pumped through their equipment, marked up and commented upon by their talent, is theirs. The broken part comes when
1: multiple people have valid copyright and copyright exemption claims on extremely similar material; and
2: the copyright enforcement algorithm doesn’t / can’t understand that.

*originally I wrote “none” — I retract that.

]]> By: cfuse http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525247 cfuse Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525247 Youtube's system is broken. Everyone knows it. Big blunders like this one are just the tip of the iceberg and merely more visible. Youtube’s system is broken. Everyone knows it. Big blunders like this one are just the tip of the iceberg and merely more visible.

]]> By: Thad Boyd http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525238 Thad Boyd Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525238 Bet this'll TOTALLY change Obama's views on copyright enforcement. Bet this’ll TOTALLY change Obama’s views on copyright enforcement.

]]> By: Eric Lortie http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525235 Eric Lortie Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525235 There should, but there won't be. That's not how the system works. That is the antithesis of how the system works. Which is, of course, the antithesis of how the system should work. There should, but there won’t be. That’s not how the system works. That is the antithesis of how the system works.

Which is, of course, the antithesis of how the system should work.

]]> By: RedShirt77 http://boingboing.net/2012/09/05/youtube-blocks-clip-of-michell.html#comment-1525227 RedShirt77 Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=179432#comment-1525227 Shouldn't there be some sort of punishment for false copy-write claims? Shouldn’t there be some sort of punishment for false copy-write claims?

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