I have a couple videos this week.
First
Second
Next is Lawrence Lessig’s Wall Street Journal piece on piracy.
So. Are the above videos legal? The first doesn’t contain any bits of the original song, so the song, at least, is legal. But when paired with the original video and posted on YouTube, it’s no longer very legal. The second video comes from a British sketch comedy show, so the original airing probably had its legal ducks in a row when using this song, but this random user then posting the clip from the show violates the show’s copyright.
Either one of these videos could disappear without notice if the copyright holder decides he doesn’t like what he’s seeing and decides to send YouTube a takedown notice. It’s not hard to imagine a tipping point when thousands of YouTube videos go away when takedowns become more popular, taking much of the joy of the internet along with them.
Discuss.
Hilarious.
I too wonder if we might look back on these times as the good ones for the internet. I know news media like say the New York Times have strategies in place for a time when they will charge for their services all the while making better and better use of this media to the point where I for one might be compelled to toss in some change.
But Takedown notices on YouTube happen all the time on espeically with powerful organizations like say SNL (who also happen to have their own internet sites for free viewing). I’m not convinced that this will happen so much with items such as you have here since they are good advertisement for all involved at least they will be allowed to flourish until say Aha or their old label or whatever gets it together to make some money off the new attention – at least giving us viewers a chance to see the clip.
Totally funny.
About copyright, it seems people always find a way. I’m not too worried. If youtube cracks down, I’m sure someone will find a new way.