Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

EFF Forces DMCA Abuser to Apologize

Posted by samzenpus on from the depths-of-my-mothers-basement-I-stab-at-thee dept.

destinyland writes "The EFF just announced victory over a serial abuser of DMCA copyright notices. To set an example, their settlement required Michael Crook to record a video apology to the entire internet for interfering with free speech. He's also required to withdraw every bogus DMCA notice, and refrain from future bogus notices, never contest the original image again, and take a remedial class on copyright law. He'd attempted to use flaws in the DMCA to censor an embarrassing picture of himself that he just didn't want appearing online — but instead the whole thing backfired."

6 of 222 comments (clear)

  1. Why not Purjury by silas_moeckel · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Since the guy appears to have made knowingly false statements under penalty of perjury clause of the DCMA when will the DA file the criminal charges????

    --
    No sir I dont like it.
  2. exile by mastershake_phd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    apology to the entire internet
     
    I think he should be banned from the internet, hey they did it to mitnick.

    --
    Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
  3. The best apologies... by Chairboy · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The best apologies are the ones that are forced by court order.

    BTW, here's a good indicator of how sincere he is: http://www.stopfairuse.info/

  4. hypocritical =b by fugu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    He wants to stop fair use, but I'm guessing he doesn't hold the copyright for the picture of Emma Watson that he used in this post on his blog

  5. Lie! by jma05 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This guy is a bare faced liar. He does not seem to have learned a bit about basic decency and continues to remain the perfect example of a "griefer".

    "I had an honest belief that one could control their image when it was used contrary to the original intent"

    And what was the original intent of the posters Crook tricked into giving their private pictures. It is unbelievable that he expects people to believed all this while doing the exact opposite. He must live in some kind of bizzaro world.

    "Who knew you can't control your own image?"

    Wasn't it the same confidence that one can't, that allowed him to do this in the first place? And yet when it comes to him the rules don't apply.

    "The appearance on Hannity and Colmes was very embarrassing for me"

    And I thought all along that he did not know the meaning of embarrassment. Or maybe, he just lacked empathy. For those out of the loop, he called the troops "scumbags" and "pukes" on his web site for which he was called to the show where he was completely unprepared to give any valid response. Other quotes from Crook on the soldiers - "What idiots risk their life for a country...? Let 'em die in combat - we don't need their ilk in this country!".

    "I firmly believe that he chose the photograph in an attempt to attack and unduly humiliate me"

    Unlike his compassionate treatment his victims? Crook said "he's enjoying exposing the perverts" and "pathetic men".

  6. Re:Copyright Ownership? by Gabriel_503 · · Score: 4, Interesting
    On his website he claims the subject of a photograph should have copyright of it, that using the image should require written consent, and that abusers should pay $50-1,500 in fines.

    Suppose you put an online family photo album up. You would never dream of asking your family for written consent, in fact that would sound insulting. Then your cousin gets pissed at you and decides to sue so that you get fined.

    This guy's a frigging genius. With laws like this, you might as well use that new digital camera as a bookend.