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YouTube 'Dancing Baby' Copyright Ruling Sets Pre-Trial Fair Use Guideline
Mr. Droopy Drawers writes with news that the famous "Dancing Baby" case will move forward to trial, after a pre-trial ruling Monday that's already unpopular with the copyright holders on one side of the case. The New York Times reports that a three-judge panel has "ruled that copyright holders must consider fair use before asking services like YouTube to remove videos that include material they control. ... [The guideline] "sends a strong message that copyright law does not authorize thoughtless censorship of lawful speech," Corynne McSherry, the legal director for Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement." Mr. Droopy Drawers adds, "Of course, the RIAA is none too happy about the ruling saying, that it puts undue burden on copyright holders. However, the judge countered, 'Even paying "lip service" to the consideration of fair use is not enough, and could expose a copyright holder to liability.'"
(Also covered in an AP story carried by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.)
(Also covered in an AP story carried by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.)
The baby in question was wantonly stealing property of Prince and Universal Music corp. for personal self-promotion. Piracy by pre-schoolers costs artists and creators billions of dollars per year. Hopefully, in the future, infants will think twice before enjoying Prince's music unlawfully.
This keeps getting modded as Funny but little does /. realize Snufu is a legal clerk for the RIAA's law firm and was being quite sincere.
"A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it." - K