It appears Viacom hasn’t learned its lesson after its last abuse of the DMCA takedown notice. It’s now targeting a YouTube video that includes a clip of a VH1 show, which includes the unauthorized use of video created by the person who uploaded the YouTube clip.
Confused? This should help:
- Chris Knight creates a funny video as part of his campaign Rockingham County Board of Education.
- Viacom’s VH1 takes the clip from YouTube and uses it in a VH1 segment, without Knight’s permission.
- Knight’s flattered and uploads the VH1 clip to YouTube.
- Viacom accuses Knight of copyright infringement and YouTube takes down the video.
Absurd? It doesn’t get any more ridiculous than that!
Knight is obviously feeling victimized by Viacom…
What does this mean for independent producers of content, if material they create can be co-opted by a giant corporation without permission or apology or compensation? When in fact, said corporations can take punitive action against you for using material that you created on your own?
That’s what’s happening to me right now, folks. Viacom is penalizing me for using my own original material, which they used without permission to begin with.
He says he doesn’t have the money to fight Viacom. Maybe Google could chip-in and help or perhaps the EFF might take up the cause.
Want to watch the VH1 clip?
