Slashdot Mirror
Best Buy Hands Out Cease & Desist Letters for Christmas
arrenlex writes "Improv Everywhere, a NY-based comedy group, was served a Cease & Desist notice by Best Buy for selling 'improv everywhere' shirts modeled after the blue Best Buy uniform. But that's not the interesting part. From the blog post: 'Here's where the story gets interesting. Today, Best Buy sent a C&D to our friend Scott Beale over at laughingsquid.com threatening legal action unless he removes the blog post referencing our shirts! They're threatening to sue someone for just covering the news story of the shirts!'"
Buy More is such a rip of Best Buy.
No court in a million years would honor a C&D sent to a news site covering a news story in good faith. This is what Fair Use is all about, regardless of which Intellectual Property we're talking about.
In fact, this is the kind of shit I want to see taken to court in the hopes that a judge will give punitive damages to the company that abused the C&D.
Honestly, what does Best Buy have to lose if they let someone print shirts that look like their shirts? All they're going to get is bad publicity by asking these guys to C&D. Even worse, they're trying to keep the story off of the internet, which is impossible, as evidenced by the fact that it is here on /.
Seek and ye shall find.
So, if this trend continues, \. will get a C&D order for the "broken windows" icon for MS related stories.
There is no "disagree" moderation, and troll, flamebait and overrated are not valid substitutes
The American TV show, "Chuck", features a young guy who works at "Buy More", which is clearly a ripoff of BB. I don't watch the show but my girlfriend had it on one night and called my attention to "Buy More" and asked if it reminded me of someplace. Change BB's color blue to green and voila! Buy More.
But that's OK for them to do that on national TV and get away with it on a weekly and ongoing basis. The reason is probably that the people who run and work at BB are infinitely more incompetent than the people who work at the fictional Buy More.
Don't forget 'Big Mart', a competitor of 'Buy More'.
Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.
Best Buy long ago alienated all customers who watch the news and refuse to shop at businesses which regularly practice sleazy business tactics. I doubt this bad PR will affect their business at all. Nobody who cares about stuff like this has shopped at Best Buy for years.
include $sig;
1;
How can companies run like this? IN my mind I see this as a big waste of effort and money on Best Buy's part. This wasted money would have to translate into Best Buy's bottom line, and thus affect we, the consumers as higher overall prices.
I've worked in the corporate world long enough to know that departments and other corporate entities show amazing survival instincts - but the legal departments of these mammoth companies are certainly the most predatory. Really, they must drum-up this kind of litigation.
I wonder if there was even any kind of financial-impact analysis or at least some kind of brand image analysis presented to the board prior to sending these notices. I would guess that the legal department simply sends them out under the "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission" assumption.
Read my Very Short "Stories"
that the C&D came from a Best Buy lawyer or just someone in Besy Buy lawyer's clothing?
The Goon Squad will go out to the offender's house to uninstall the HDTV and replace it with an old CRT TV.
Can you send a C&D regarding C&Ds?
The Generation
I'd say something witty here, but I'm not that bright.
I have not done a lot of things yet in life, and receiving a C&D letter is one of them. What do /.-ers think is my 'best' chance of getting one from BestBuy?
/. think?
1 - YouTube channel?
2 - BestChance.com website?
3 - changing my middle name to bestbuy?
4 - suing bestbuy for discrimination, on the basis that I didn't get a C&D leter?
5 - Setting up a store in SecondLife called BestBye? Giving away uniforms for other SL stores?
6 - Call the secret whitehouse telephone line, claiming to be the bestbuy ceo?
7 - Getting GreenPeach to name a whale 'best buy'
8 - Setup a reddit account under the name bEsTbUy, and only submit stories on best buy?
9 - Number nine left out because the writers are on strike
10 - buy 300 hours of blimp advertising, with sign that looks like the best buy sign, but done in crayon and written upside down?
What does
Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
wayback machine ftw:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070410022442/www.bestbuysux.org
well for old entries anyway.
... and the "Nerd Herd" is obviously a reference to the "Geek Squad" (other than the Nerd Herd folks are portrayed as being competent).
Cheers,
Dave
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
Ben
http://www.improveverywhere.com/2006/04/23/best-buy/
so they went to the chelsea best buy, hundreds of them, in blue shirts, and pretended to be assistants throughout the store, perhaps more helpful than actual staff in some cases
customers were amused and bemused, management went apeshit, the best part is the the black chick who goes "it's like that movie, 'the thomas crown affair'"!
but seriously: this is all a case of people with too much time on their hands: the best buy "actors" in the original "event", AND the lawyers suing them
and isn't there some sort of legal protection for comedy, jokes, mockery? the law that protects political cartoons for example. would they have a case with that? obviously IANAL, as i can't even remember the legal term for this sort of "mockery" that is protected
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Costs vs. Benefits of sending a doubtfully valid cease and desist notice:
Costs:
* Postage.
* Paralegal staffing costs (assume 15 minutes to prepare the boilerplate).
* Small chance some guys on Slashdot get grumpy for a while, until the next time there's a sale on DVD-Rs (whereupon all is forgiven, transactionally speaking).
Benefits:
* Decent chance the guy stops doing whatever it is you feel like stopping him from doing.
It's not even a close call. A C&D is a warning shot, an initial skirmish. It doesn't commit them to anything legally, and the public image repercussions are vanishingly low.
The opinions stated herein do not necessarily represent those of anybody at all. Deal with it.
It's more of an intimidation technique.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
Could Improv Everywhere being doing this as a gag? If memory serves, there was a fake suit from McDonald's?
Not saying this is a gag, but it is hard to trust pranksters. Also, this is assuming the news site is in on the gag.
My money is on Best Buy having no sense of humor and this is real.
Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
I'm sure Best Buy isn't just after them for having blue shirts. This is more likely a form of "payback" for the embarrassment that Improv Everywhere caused Best Buy in 2006 when 80 people showed up at a NYC Best Buy dressed in blue polo shirts and khakis. (Flickr and YouTube coverage.)
Best Buy just sent us an apology letter for sending us a C & D letter just because we blogged about the Improv Everywhere shirts: http://laughingsquid.com/best-buy-apologies-for-sending-cease-desist-letter/ Here's the original C & D letter: http://laughingsquid.com/best-buy-cease-desist-letter/
I hate to defend Best Buy, but they've already admitted their mistake and apologized for the C&D letter sent to laughingsquid.com:
http://laughingsquid.com/best-buy-apologies-for-sending-cease-desist-letter/
Laughing Squid just received an apology letter.
They are still militant against the blue shirts, though. (rolls eyes)
Note that it was Best Buy's *lawyers*, but he then talked to Best Buy Corporate Public Relations Group, and they rapidly figured this one out - he got a quick retraction and apology.
"There are four boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order." - Ed Howdershelt
So you told us you haven't bought much stuff at Best Buy in the past although you visited the store more, and now you are refusing to buy anything in the future. Yep that'll hurt 'em. Hit them where it counts ... in the guy-wanders-around-store-alot-but-now-we-don't-see-him-anymore department!
I'm the sysadmin for improveverywhere's server (currently curled in the corner in the fetal position, sucking its thumb and begging for its mommy), and we got a DMCA takedown notice, in addition to the C&D improveverywhere got.
#####
Subject: Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Dear Sir or Madam:
I represent [OUR ISP]. Attached to this e-mail, or set out below, is a notice [OUR ISP] received alleging that material on your website infringes a copyright. This notice was sent to [OUR ISP] under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). A good summary of the DMCA can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMCA#DMCA_Title_II:_Online_Copyright_Infringement_Liability_Limitation_Act
The DMCA has three steps. The notice [OUR ISP] received is the first step.
This notice triggers automatic removal or take down provisions under the DMCA. What this means is that the material identified in the DMCA notice must be removed by you, or taken down by [OUR ISP]. This must be done before you can dispute the claims set out in the notice. [OUR ISP] understands that this "guilty until proven innocent" aspect of the DMCA can be unfair, but its required by law.
If you believe the DMCA notice contains errors, you should immediately contact the person who sent the notice. Please let me know by e-mail if they agree to withdraw the notice. I will then contact them to verify the withdrawal.
After you remove the material, you may present [OUR ISP] with a "counter notice." This is the second step.
The elements of the counter notice are identified below, and in more detail in the wikipedia entry. Please make sure you fully understand the DMCA before presenting [OUR ISP] with a DMCA counter notice. It may be helpful for you to consult with your attorney. Unfortunately [OUR ISP] can not provide you with legal advice on this matter.
It is important that you take action immediately. Please let me know, within 5 days of the date of this e-mail that you have taken down the material. If I do not hear from you within this period of time, the DMCA requires [OUR ISP] to take down the material.
On behalf of the staff at [OUR ISP] I thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[THEIR LAWYER]
Other than Chuck, which of the Herd members are portrayed as competent?
A couple of years ago, I ducked into my local BB completely unaware that I was dressed very much like all the people who work there. I had the khakis and a (Penguin logo) blue shirt, same shade as their official "uniforms". As I'm walking by the laptop display, this harried looking soccer mom stops me and starts asking me a bunch of questions about the laptops in that "Hurry up young man, I've got to pick up my kids in 20 minutes" way. Completely not understanding her insistance, I told her I couldn't help her. So, she says, "Well, if you can't be bothered, I'll just take my business elsewhere!" I replied something like, "Whatever makes you happy sweetheart." and went on with my shopping.
About 2 mins later, I hear her shrill voice and look over. She's got the floor manager out and she's yelling at him about "That rude young man! That one! Right there!" Pointing at me! Okay, now I figured it out and started to walk over to explain while the manager is going, "Ma'am, he doesn't work here. He's a customer too."
Now, I kind of feel bad about the next part, but I honestly couldn't help it. I saw his nametag had "Scott" on it, so as I walked up, ignoring the unconvinced customer, I said, "Hey Scott, sorry, but I've already punched out and I'm in a real hurry. See you in the morning! Bye!"
The poor guy was still trying to talk her down as I was leaving!
Scott, buddy, if you're out there - Sorry, but really, it was kind of funny, right?
Female logic at it's best.
I don't always use unix-like operating systems; but when I do, I prefer FreeBSD.
Yes, they're called counter-notices and (as far as I understand) the only recourse after receiving one is to take legal action. Though the 'under penalty of perjury' claus probably discourages people from using these handy tools.
A nice template for such a notice can be found at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Terrorism/form-letter.html.
I just read Slashdot for the articles.
I went down to the Chelsea boxstore
/.
...oh yes
To get my wii that was on sale..
I was standing in line with a fake assistant,
And man, he did the job pretty well.
We decided that we should have a party,
My favorite pastime, mocking newbs.
My storys been posted up on
My servers dead, guess we filled the tubes.. .
You can't always wear what you want,
You can't always wear what you want,
You can't always wear what you want,
But if you try sometimes you just might find
A cease and desist,
http://www.laughingsquid.com/
Best Buy sent LS.com a letter by both email and next day delivery apologizing for sending the C&D to a news source.
I am impressed.
Check out http://www.laughingsquid.com/ front page for details.
I was in Best Buy (Rockwall,Tx) last Sunday, and I swear the guy thought he was a secret agent. He spoke like Captain Awesome and wore an ear piece putting his finger to it to inform the front desk we were on our way with our new purchase.
Perhaps this Best Buy should be sent a cease and desist for ripping off 'Chuck'.
To the sales rep's credit, he stopped trying to sell me Antivirus/anti-malware stuff after I said I was going to stick Ubuntu on the new laptop.... he just said 'Awesome, good choice'... (in his Captain Awesome voice... with a 'thumbs up' )
Slashdot needs a MOD +1 RIMSHOT
seriously....
A goal is a dream with a deadline
... and male punctuation, cockhead.
I think the correct response to this cease-and-desist letter would be a fuck-off-and-die letter.
While the C&D to Improv Everywhere and Neighborhoodies still stands (although the shirts seem like clear parody to me) If you actually look at laughingsquid.com you'll see that BestBuy apologized for sending them a C&D for reporting about the existence of the shirts as a matter of fact, and acknowledged they were in error.
-- The Hoss Man
That's still one too many
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
Good point although Anna Wu (Julia Ling) seems to be reasonably competent. The show doesn't really bring out much about the remaining Nerd Herd.
Cheers,
Dave
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither safety nor liberty.
Ben
Clearly their lawyers are bored and need things to do. I suggest somebody tell them to watch the TV show "Chuck"... there's a C&D in the waiting...
Did you try yelling "PINEAPPLE!"?
Really?
Just because you are harried and in a hurry does *not* give you the excuse to be rude, especially to some sap making damned close to minimum wage who's just there to help you. If she had been polite to start with, his response itself would've been rude. However, being rude in response to rudeness is perhaps the only valid response.
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
Yes, we have Best Buy. We also have future shop which is owned by Best Buy. And in the city I live the two "companies" are accross the street from each other making a mockery of competition.
We also have sears and costco, but I wouldn't buy anything there unless they had what I wanted but they rarely do. We have 'the source by circuit city' which seems to own all the old "radio shacks" in the malls, and its pretty lousy. We have costco, but I'm not a "member", but I've been through them and don't find it terribly compelling.
As for the tire store? Canadian Tire, not really. You might buy a $60 DVD player there I guess, or a clock radio... but not an HDTV or a computer.
I buy computer electronics online, or from 'hole in the wall' computer shops (who often mostly deal online).
But home electronics like TV's, speakers, stereos... its "beyond horrible" here too.
BestBuy/FutureShop has driven everyone else out of business, and dealing with bestbuy/futureshop is a nightmare. Product knowledge is what's written on the sticker in front of the product, and they even get that wrong half the time. The best product is the one with the highest margin, or even more likely the one with the best rewards program from the manufacturer. Luckily it looks the best on display too. (That its the one with the blueray player while the rest of the TVs are all connected by RCA splitters to a VCR and someone's gone and turned the contrast down is all beside the point.) And you definitely need a $400 monster power conditioner to ensure that your television picture looks its best...
Sure you can still walk into a Bang&Olufsen but that isn't 'consumer electronics' either. That's 'you have too much money and want a cd player that opens like a flower'... oh and we have "the Sony Store" which is great if you want to pay too much, and see Sony TV's next to other Sony TV's and only want know what size Sony TV to buy while speaking to reps who don't know squat about non-Sony product but still "know" that sony's X is better than anyone elses X. Comparison shopping at its finest! But that's beyond useless as I refuse to buy sony branded products anyway. I suppose the one good thing is that lines are short in there even during the holiday rush. And its fun to ask them if they have Wii's or 360's in stock.
I work at best buy, and this is in no way below them. They might be one of the most evil businesses ever conceived. As a sales "associate" (i.e. salesman) it is my job to answer any questions you may have, and supposedly I will do so impartially since I'm non-commission. However, since my managers, and supervisors, are on commission, since they make a portion of the stores profit, they threaten termination and other forms of repercussion in an effort to force the non-commission sales staff to sell their shitty insurance policy (never ever buy Performance Service Plan, ever). In the same way, this C&D is just another way to insure a level of control over the use of their symbol. They don't want it being used in a way that doesn't convey a sense of comfort, since they want potential customers to view it as a seal of assurance. I myself am not allowed to discuss best buy policy, my wages, my fellow employees, or anything that I do at best buy, on my own personal time. This includes the use of "taggy" (the best buy symbol) as an image on one's blog or facebook profile.