World of Suck

I've mentioned it before, and I'll probably do so again. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act sucks donkey balls. And so do most of the people that use it. It's poorly designed, vaguely written, and grotesquely overpowered.

I offer up as evidence, exhibit A: Viacom's attack on YouTube user Christopher Knight. Mr Knight is running for the County Board of Education of where ever the fuck he lives. So he made a funny little commercial that apparently aired on local TV. He also uploaded it to YouTube.

Because people were amused by it, it got a lot of views, and eventually VH1 got wind of it. They thought it was funny and decided to put it on their YouTube thievery show 'Web Junk 2.0'. Basically a show that looks out for the new hot video, and puts it on TV. Apparently because they can't be bothered to think of original ideas.

So, Mr Knight hears about it and laughs a little. He was amused by it and decided to take advantage of his little moment of fame. He took a clip of the Web Junk show airing HIS clip, put it on YouTube, and linked it in his blog.

Naturally, Viacom, owners of VH1, sent in a DMCA takedown notice. Totally fucked up. He has a clip of them broadcasting HIS clip, and they have the nerve to demand he take it down?

But it gets better. Oh yes. You see, VH1... never ASKED him if they could broadcast it. And just for bonus points, they violated YouTube's terms of service by stealing his video. His not-for-profit ad was pilfered by a for-profit corporation and they give him shit when he puts it up online?

Fuck them and fuck the DMCA