More DMCA Censorship at Yahoo!

Thomas Hawk writes "Once again a Yahoo! user has found themselves on the short end of the DMCA stick. Video blogger Loren Feldman recently found that his video mocking (read parody) the Village People and blogger Shel Israel was removed from the Yahoo! service after Scorpio Music served Yahoo! with a DMCA takedown notice. The video in question contained a very brief fair use parody snippet of the Village People song YMCA as performed by a puppet. What's more, Yahoo! threatened Feldman with the termination of all of his Yahoo! services including the revocation of his Yahoo ID."

Ya Know.....

[IHC Navistar]

Ya know, it would hilarious if someone turned this around and made a parody of the DMCA by changing the lyrics and setting it to the tune of "YMCA".

As much of a copyright violation that it may seem to be, it would still be *VERY* Fair Use, since it would be a parody.

Re:They're trying to avoid lawsuits during takeove

[mrvan]

What I don't get is this: I thought the principle behind the DMCA was that Yahoo, on being served a notice, would take down the possibly illicit material, and that the poster could get it back on by identifying himself and taking legal responsibility.

It seemed to me (not an American, not a lawyer) like a good system: the host is responsible in the first instance and takes material down without judging about the illegality (which the host can't), unless the poster takes responsibility and claims it is not illegal (fair use, own work, whatever), and it can be settled in court.

Apparently, it doesn't work that way...? Or does the poster not have the guts to stand up for his right? Or does yahoo go further than required by the DMCA?

Re:It's a Village People thing...

[jack455]

For anyone who believes in any kind of copyright at all that is exactly what should be protected against. Seriously, though, it doesn't sound like fair use (aside from being non-commercial). It's not a true parody IMO (and probably the courts) and not any kind of review or statement and certainly of no benefit to society (nor was the original song).

Land of the what?

[Anonymous Coward]

Tell me again, how did you guys end up with this DMCA and when do you think you will be rid of it?

Not half as bad as MySpace

[vnaughtdeltat]

I had less trouble closing my bank account than my MySpace account.