Youtube bends for Scientology

[w1z4rd]

Over a period of twelve hours, between this Thursday night and Friday morning, American Rights Counsel LLC sent out over 4000 DMCA takedown notices to YouTube, all making copyright infringement claims against videos with content critical of the Church of Scientology. Clips included footage of Australian and German news reports about Scientology, A Message to Anonymous/Scientology , and footage from a Clearwater City Commission meeting. Many accounts were suspended by YouTube in response to multiple allegations of copyright infringement.

YouTube users responded with DMCA counter-notices. At this time, many of the suspended channels have been reinstated and many of the videos are back up. Whether or not American Rights Counsel, LLC represents the notoriously litigious Church of Scientology is unclear, but this would not be the first time that the Church of Scientology has used the DMCA to silence Scientology critics. The Church of Scientology DMCA complaints shut down the YouTube channel of critic Mark Bunker in June, 2008. Bunker’s account, XenuTV, was also among the channels shut down in this latest flurry of takedown notices.

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/massive-takedown-anti-scientology-videos-youtube

I just lost every little bit of respect for Youtube and as of today, will not be supporting them as much until they get their act together.

This is NOT a matter of just copyright.. if anyone follows XenuTV on Youtube, you will know that most of Marks stuff is original. He has made many of his own documentaries with his own footage. Normally showing the freaky Scientology stalkers that follow him everywhere.

This is a massive breach of free speech, and everyone should be worried, because it looks like Scientology now has the authority to tell you what they want you to watch.

Absolutely disgusting

 

[semiautomatix]

They'll bend for the Scientoligists; but not if the Muslims make requests? Hmmm, seems like someone has an online video service in their pockets.

 

[Devill]

Maybe tom cruise threatened to go all MI on Youtube's ass

I agree this is wrong.

 

[johnnygirl]

Youtube sucks! I'm a blip.tv supporter.

 

[Turiko]

Are you guys aware of how powerful the church of scientology is in the legal department? Their leader even taught them that they need to sue all resistance.

 

[w1z4rd]

Are you guys aware of how powerful the church of scientology is in the legal department? Their leader even taught them that they need to sue all resistance.

Completely aware. Which is why everyone needs to know how dangerous this religion is to society.

I would rather my kid was a Muslim, a Jew, a Mormon, a Jehovahs Witness, a fortune teller or a bum than a Scientologist. No other religion can destroy a family (just about every time) like Scientology.

 

[DDV TECH]

“Scientology and the organizations that promote it have remained highly controversial since their inception. Former members, journalists, courts and the governing bodies of several countries have described the Church of Scientology as a cult and an unscrupulous commercial enterprise, accusing it of harassing its critics and abusing the trust of its members. Scientology officials argue that most of the negative press is motivated by interest groups and that most of the controversy is in the past.” – From wiki.

Well it seems that not all controversy is past then. The founding member was a science fiction writer, doesn’t that tell them anything?

 

[w1z4rd]

“Scientology and the organizations that promote it have remained highly controversial since their inception. Former members, journalists, courts and the governing bodies of several countries have described the Church of Scientology as a cult and an unscrupulous commercial enterprise, accusing it of harassing its critics and abusing the trust of its members. Scientology officials argue that most of the negative press is motivated by interest groups and that most of the controversy is in the past.” – From wiki.

Well it seems that not all controversy is past then. The founding member was a science fiction writer, doesn’t that tell them anything?

He was also a pathological liar. Even his son says that 90% of what his father told people about himself.. was a lie. Many courts have also noted that Hubbard was a pathological liar.

He is also on record as saying "The quickest way to make a million bucks is to start a religion"

So while the Scientology support base has to be the dumbest in the world.. their leaders are smart and deadly and treat this like a cartel business.

 

[icyrus]

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2008/09/massive-takedown-anti-scientology-videos-youtube

I just lost every little bit of respect for Youtube and as of today, will not be supporting them as much until they get their act together.

This is NOT a matter of just copyright.. if anyone follows XenuTV on Youtube, you will know that most of Marks stuff is original. He has made many of his own documentaries with his own footage. Normally showing the freaky Scientology stalkers that follow him everywhere.

This is a massive breach of free speech, and everyone should be worried, because it looks like Scientology now has the authority to tell you what they want you to watch.

Absolutely disgusting

They filed DMCA takedown notices so Google complied and took the contested videos down. The owners of some of the videos then filed counter-claims and Google complied and put them back up.

This was all done inline with the laws as set out by the DMCA. It is not Google's responsibility to determine the validity of the DMCA takedown notices and nor should it be. They need to remain neutral on content in order to avoid liability.

A DMCA takedown notice is a sworn document and therefor false claims should be considered perjury. Whether or not anyone has the financial muscle to take on the cult of scientology though is another story.

Google did nothing wrong in this instance.

 

[TheHiveMind]

He was also a pathological liar. Even his son says that 90% of what his father told people about himself.. was a lie. Many courts have also noted that Hubbard was a pathological liar.

He is also on record as saying "The quickest way to make a million bucks is to start a religion"

So while the Scientology support base has to be the dumbest in the world.. their leaders are smart and deadly and treat this like a cartel business.

Sounds like any other cult

 

[w1z4rd]

They filed DMCA takedown notices so Google complied and took the contested videos down. The owners of some of the videos then filed counterclaims and Google complied and put them back up.

This was all done inline with the laws as set out by the DMCA. It is not Google's responsibility to determine the validity of the DMCA takedown notices and nor should it be. They need to remain neutral on content in order to avoid liability.

A DMCA takedown notice is a sworn document and therefor false claims should be considered perjury. Whether or not anyone has the financial muscle to take on the cult of scientology though is another story.

Google did nothing wrong in this instance.

Thats not good enough. 4000 applications didnt set of any alarm bells at Google that something was up?

So anyone can just fill in a form and get any content taken offline (sure it might be restored.. if the user is aware of it).. so basically. I can use a pseudo name.. or make an association that can be disolved if it is litigated against... and just remove all Youtube videos I wish?

Of course 70% of them would most likely be returned with people willing to put in the effort to get their content online.. but in the mean time.. I was able to knock off 30% of the critics.

Wow.. big loop holes, and easily open to anonymous abuse.

 

[icyrus]

Thats not good enough. 4000 applications didnt set of any alarm bells at Google that something was up?

Google is legally bound to comply. They are not in a position to rule on the content - that is a job for the courts.

So anyone can just fill in a form and get any content taken offline (sure it might be restored.. if the user is aware of it).. so basically. I can use a pseudo name.. or make an association that can be disolved if it is litigated against... and just remove all Youtube videos I wish?

Of course 70% of them would most likely be returned with people willing to put in the effort to get their content online.. but in the mean time.. I was able to knock off 30% of the critics.

Wow.. big loop holes, and easily open to anonymous abuse.

Like I said a DMCA takedown notice is a sworn document and abuse of it can lead to perjury charges.

 

[w1z4rd]

Google is legally bound to comply. They are not in a position to rule on the content - that is a job for the courts.

They should be in a position to notice when their system is being abused.

Like I said a DMCA takedown notice is a sworn document and abuse of it can lead to perjury charges.

Against an association that most likely has being setup so that no one can be liable. Its very easy to set that up.

I understand your point, but at the end of the day, I believe Google should have safeguards in place to stop this kinda abuse of their systems.

 

[icyrus]

They should be in a position to notice when their system is being abused.



Against an association that most likely has being setup so that no one can be liable. Its very easy to set that up.

I understand your point, but at the end of the day, I believe Google should have safeguards in place to stop this kinda abuse of their systems.

This is a failing of the law not Google's. While they may have noticed the "abuse" of the DMCA takedown notices they legally have only two choices:

1. Comply with the takedowns
2. Fight all of the takedowns on behalf of their users

As you can imagine, option 2 is not really an option for a publicly listed company that wishes to maintain its safe harbor status.

What else would you like them to do? The DMCA is a crap set of laws but it still the law.

 

[w1z4rd]

I think perhaps Google should follow their own rules of "Do no evil" before they consider being all Swiss.

 

[icyrus]

I think perhaps Google should follow their own rules of "Do no evil" before they consider being all Swiss.

That is not an answer, unless of course you think Google is above US law?

 

[diabolus]

They'll bend for the Scientoligists; but not if the Muslims make requests? Hmmm, seems like someone has an online video service in their pockets.

The difference here is, Scientology is like a Company/Business..they sue and do lawsuits as a business entity. That's why Google/Youtube probably react faster to copyright infringement/legal notices from ANY business than from other religious fanatics.

Other "real" religions don't sue and put out a constant legal notices [they usually don't have the money or time for it] , especially not for copyright related stuff.....
I believe the Scientology "company", got a whole army of lawyers doing these sort of things (they've been at it for years, this is actually not new for them)...if it was Microsoft doing this, Youtube would've done exactly the same.....doesn't mean they like Microsoft. I think youtube just tends to cover their arses by killing clips instead of having a never-ending court battle.

 

[w1z4rd]

That is not an answer, unless of course you think Google is above US law?

No, I never mentioned that. I agree this problem needs to be solved in the courts for a better solution, but at the same time, I believe some of that responsibility lands on Google.

 

[icyrus]

No, I never mentioned that. I agree this problem needs to be solved in the courts for a better solution, but at the same time, I believe some of that responsibility lands on Google.

But you fail to say how or what exactly you expect them to do given the laws they have to follow?

 

[Keeper]

is there a way to invest some stock into this company of scientology? i wanna make cash off of stupid people too!