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CNN Uses DMCA Against Parody

Posted by michael on from the not-funny-anymore dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "Big corporate media also likes to use the DMCA to shut down web sites. Here is a blogger site which is under threat from CNN. CNN wants to shut down The National Debate becuase of a one web page parody."

2 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. Listen... by Your_Mom · · Score: 3, Informative

    You can hear the liberal slashdotters' heads asplode...

    "DMCA bad.... but... site... pro-Bush... ack... who should I side with... aaaah... *pop*"

    To be ontopic, here are some mirrors of the parody in question:

    Mirror 1
    Mirror B
    Third Mirror
    Mirror Cuatro

    --
    Objects in the blog are closer then they ap
  2. CNN is right, but for the wrong reasons by DDumitru · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you look at the page on a mirror and examine is closely, it looks like the source HTML came straight from a "real" CNN page and the new story was cut and pasted in. Even the ads are real.

    So, technically, the parody site does violate the copyright of CNN for the HTML "code" on the page. This is more than just layout as it includes javascript and even content management comments. Even the links were copied intact so that they are now broken. Basically, a lazy parody site that would not take the time to create an "original" parody and just cut and pasted instead.

    Now, I still think that CNN is being incredibly "stupid" in pursueing this. I also think that the DMCA is dumb (on a lot of grounds in addition to) not requiring that the nature of an infringement be specified in a complaint.

    So I think thenationaldebate just needs to be a little less sloppy and not just use "save as" with other peoples web sites. Make it look like who you are parodying, but write it yourself.