Their Own Medicine

Wow, this is great news. Finally, the politicians who voted for this inane law now have to endure its consequences. Politicians are not above the law, that is a fundamental tenant of democracy. Does this mean that if McCain becomes president, he will promise us a DMCA repeal? Wishful thinking...

On the other hand, why doesn't McCain just make his own video website and point people to that? Oh yes I forgot, this guy doesn't even read email.

A spoon full of sugar...

... won't make their own medicine go down any easier. Fair is fair. With some exposure - on both sides - to the teeth side of the silly law(s), at least they can no longer plead ignorance.

And there's always this: http://xkcd.com/488/

Pirates of the Campaignin'

So let me get this straight, some copyright infringers (politicians) are more equal than others?

Where's the Orwell icon when you need one?

McCain - now you see what's wrong...

...but you can't just change the law to suit yourself. Other people have the same problems when using video content. Fair enough if you are stealing from someone and depribing them of the ability to make use of what they own.

However when it comes to news, you give that up when you broadcast it. You can't morally own the copyright on the news. If you have sent out a news report then people should be able to use that report when they comment on the news or when they use the news to illistrate a point.

By having the news agency own the news is like they own the truth bacause only they are allowed to use it.

I do think it would help if people did their own news gathering and not rely on the established agencies.

TUX because it's about doing your own thing.

One word

schadenfreude

Can't he just ask for permission first?

I mean, if the use really is *fair*, then presumably the rights holder would have no objection. It's hardly *endorsement* to let someone use a few seconds of background music, and they'd presumably be happy to extend the same generosity to the other candidate.

Paris, coz he didn't get her permission first either.

Why not allow it?

Saves us thinking they actually give a shit about the law anyway.

Someone should make a script

Generate a fake twat-o-tron-esque takedown notice whenever anyone posts a video to YouTube with the word McCain in it.

Sorry, chip-eaters, this is worth it.

There is an old saying that a conservative is a liberal who was just robbed and a liberal is a conservative who was just arrested. It seems also to apply to a person who has had their ip stolen and a person who has been victimised by bad ip-protection legislation.

'Not commercial'?

Excuse me but how can anything related to a Republican candidate be considered 'not commercial use'?

Or is he suddenly going to stop taking bungs from corporations?

Subtext "Get Your Copyright Clearance First..."

FFS - is he WILL use other people's stuff in his YouTube videos, what does he expect?

"Warner Music Group demanded YouTube remove a McCain video that uses the 1967 Frankie Vallie song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." CBS wanted a YouTube video removed that used a clip from Katie Couric. And Fox News had a similar complaint about a McCain video that used a clip about the financial crisis."

I mean, we all have to worry about getting clearances for stuff!!!

Chortle

Reap as you sow.

I'm nursing a semi

Politico hoisted by own petard? This is good stuff.

Go on, John, beg some more. How much do you want it?

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh

"We're politicians. We're your betters. Feel sorry for us. We want everyone's toys. Gimmegimmegimmegimmegimme. No you can't have your ball back"

'kin' really?

Fix the law?

How about actually fixing the law instead of creating special privileges for politicians.

Besides, this is complete bunk: "there is no justification for depriving the American people of access to important and timely campaign videos during that period" - web delivered video content doesn't *have* to be published through You Tube - if you don't like your publisher's policies you are free to go use a different one (or do it yourself). Isn't this, after all, what the advantage is supposed to be of a free market?

Bitten By His Own Legislation

Nice to know that if the law was passed (even though DCMA should be taken off from the books) that one of the people that voted FOR it is caught for violating it. Besides the usual rumor mongering that his campaign engages in, being a music and video pirate shouldn't be surprising to anyone.

... and you can fuck right off.

One law for us, one law for them, right?

Tough shit, buddy. I'm thoroughly enjoying the schadenfreud here. They're quite happy to take the lobbyists cash when it suits them, but they're shocked - shocked, I tell you, when the legislation they pass on behalf of their paymasters comes round and bites them on the arse.

Well, screw you, McCain. Reap what you sow. If you don't like it, well, don't infringe copyright, and get used to working within the legislation that the politicians passed.

Meanwhile, do they have any idea how much of a bunch of complete shits this makes them look like? In all likelihood they just don't care. McCain's just showing that he fully intends to continue Bush's legacy of doing whatever the hell he wants to do, ignoring the law and abusing the US's constitution.

Apologies for the tirade, but I've just finished reading Charlie Savage's excellent book "Takeover", and it's made me very angry indeed.

Excellent

"McCain was among the Senators that voted in favor (sic) of the provision in 1998."

Not quite instant karma but close enough for me.

Paris, cos she understands about dodgy vids.

Ahem...

*clears throat*

*steps up to the microphone*

"Electile dysfunction!"

No? ...Ok then. As you were..

Doh Stupid politics.

What on earth would anyone want to be looking at political crap on YouTube for? OK if I'm directed to a scathing clip as its always nice to see one of the buggers fall on their arse but the really interesting thing about this is that the man is a wealthy businessman with all sorts of advisors.

None of whom got a contract for him to use freely any clips of film of him taken by anyone.

Good job he's not going to have to deal with any financial stuff when he is in office. Is he?

Fair is fair!

I see... He understands that Youtube doesn't have the resources to immediately review all videos takedown notices are issued against, but he doesn't feel that it would be too much effort for them to make an exception for political candidates

I wonder if that applies to any other person the public has an interest in too? No? So what makes politicians so special? They create the rules - they can live by them, however inconvenient. I wonder how a presidential campaign openly based on "one rule for the rulers, another for the ruled" would fair?

Senators elevate themselves above Kings?

It is morally wrong for members of governments to ask for exemptions from the law they apply to the rest of us. There is supposed to be one law for all -- common law.

This was something we straightened out with monarchs and their employees even before American independence.

It would be a giant step backward for the US to elevate members of its government to a position higher than the kings the authors of the US constitution wanted to prevent.

If US politicians think the DMCA is too strict, they should adjust it, they should adjust it for everyone.

fair use?

the so-called use will cause irreparable harm to the artists whose work it is. The artists have already made it perfectly clear, the use of their work in that instance is unauthorized. And the artists have the right to say who can and can't use their work for clearly commercial purposes. It's called copyright. Claiming it's not commercial is just stupid. Because money is not the goal doesn't make it fair use. It's clearly not fair use.

Hmmm....

... "timely" and "factual" information from McCain campaign? Film at 11.

Oh well, he can still use pieces of old Leni Riefenstahl movies to inspire America. Copyright should have expired on these.

If he really believed in the DMCA

Then he would file a proper counter-notice. Not some e-mail urging for them to brake the law by making a provision for politicians which isn't specified in the law itself.

Hoist by his own Petard

Sums it up nicely, I think. :)

It's a top gag though...

Just keep filing the take down notices against him and you can effectively censor his right wing hate mongering bullsh!t.

This could be good

At least it is highlighting the ridiculousness of DMCA takedowns.

Because lets face it when we complain nobody cares….. when somebody of the power and influence of John McCain complains it gets published on the news.

Maybe if they had listened to me when I complained about the racketeering banks we wouldn't be in the global mess we are in now.

Paris because she says 'Publish and be damned'

Rearrange these words...

... to get a well known phrase or saying.

Petard, Hoist, One's, Own, By.

Obviously McCain is one of those politicos who think they have special privileges (the word derives from "private law"!) and that the sort of legislation they pass is only for the "little people" to obey.

Laughable hypocrisy

Claiming the videos are examples of "fair use" because they are non-commercial and factual is pretty laughable. Politicians are as commercial as anyone, and less factual than anyone.

Also, every week we get some other band coming forward to say the McCain bunch have nicked their tunes.

All in all, McCain should just stop weeping and suck it up like his constituents have had to.