In a shocking move of selective and possibly unlawful censorship, Motorola’s partner Warner Music Group (WMG) compelled YouTube to remove the St Louis Boycott Motorola Flash Mob video seven days after it was posted last month. (The original video was reposted here.)
The video featured more than forty members and friends of the St Louis Palestine Solidarity Committee (STL-PSC) serenading holiday shoppers in Brentwood, MO with a parody of Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s “Telephone.” The singers and dancers urged patrons to join the boycott of Motorola products because of the company’s involvement in Israel’s illegal occupation and war crimes. The video went viral, garnering coverage around the world. It acquired more than 35,000 hits in less than a week.
Shortly after the count hit 35,000, YouTube shut down the video, citing a copyright infringement claim by WMG. However, parodies of songs are protected under a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Campbell v. Acuff-Rose, and STL-PSC’s video clearly constituted “fair use.” There are more than 1,000 Lady Gaga flash mob videos on YouTube and hundreds more parodying Beyoncé songs. Many of them are using the same song, and none of them have been shut down by WMG. What doesn’t WMG want the world to know about Motorola, and why not?
The case gets more interesting… Upon further investigation, it appears that the song’s copyright never belonged to WMG to begin with (it belongs to Universal Music Group, Inc.). WMG has zero claim to the song and their actions could constitute DMCA take-down abuse.
So who is WMG connected to? Motorola. The two companies announced their global partnership to collaborate on “the development of digital products, marketing campaigns and strategic planning” three years ago.
STL-PSC believes that this is an infringement on freedom of expression and plans to challenge the take-down.
Watch the video for more information on Motorola’s involvement in war crimes, and learn more about the campaign to Hang Up on Motorola. The effects of Motorola’s recent corporate split on the boycott campaign are still unclear, but Motorola (Solutions) unquestionably remains a prime target for divestment, as through the JVP-led TIAA-CREF Campaign.
Don’t let Motorola and WMG silence people of conscience! Please keep watching and sharing the video. As we’ve seen, this is precisely what Motorola and WMG don’t want. It seems to be making them feel uncomfortable, as they rightly should. Let’s keep the pressure on.
Maybe someone should ask Lady Gaga to consider suing WMG for fraud — they’re pretending to own the copyright on her music after all.
Anyway, there are far better video posting sites than YouTube nowadays. Ones not subject to censorship… or extreme ad spam.
<i.Anyway, there are far better video posting sites than YouTube nowadays. Ones not subject to censorship… or extreme ad spam.
Such as?
well, there’s Vimeo for one . . .
any other sites you’d recommend Hu Bris/Chaos?
Cool Palestine song on above said site:
link to vimeo.com
Written obviously for zionists who don’t know how to spell the word P.A.L.E.S.T.I.N.E.
Now focus you airheads and repeat (often)!
“any other sites you’d recommend Hu Bris”
Oh yes, indeedy
I would particularly recommend these:
http://tinyurl.com/rqlbo
http://tinyurl.com/2wgmuts
http://tinyurl.com/2vacstf
http://tinyurl.com/3xb22o
http://tinyurl.com/a6c4ua
Maybe somebody should study Google’s activity in Israel?
“Google Israel’s development center managing director Yossi Matias, said in a statement that Google was committed to continue investing in Israel “both by expanding and deepening our activity as well as by continuing to strengthen our collaboration with companies and start-ups in Israel.” ”
SUPPORT ISRAEL . US
What do you think that means? As I said previous, which you failed to post, is to check out the leadership of Google – do you think I am joking or am just posting this for some spurious reason?
“Google Israel head: It’s “a major honor that Israel was the 7th country chosen to participate,” anticipates strengthening of video sector.
Sources have informed ‘Globes’ that Israel will take part in a pilot program set up by Google-owned video sharing site YouTube, with participation from Israeli advertising agencies. The goal is to encourage Israeli advertisers to allocate more resources to advertising on Google’s video platform.”
Israel to join YouTube-Google advertising pilot program
Is anyone getting the picture here?
“Google Israel country manager Meir Brand confirmed the report, saying, “For me, it’s a major honor that Israel is the seventh country chosen to participate in YouTube’s international pilot. The goal is to show that Google is committed to the video advertising sector, and intends to strengthen the sector and invest in it.” “
Meir Brand introduces (same head of Google) brings the technological aspect of Israel to AIPAC, minus the murderous colonial settler state activity. For what Google does with and for Israel it should be a target of BDS, for helping to white wash Israel and make it some Mecca of technology in the ME – “the ONLY place you have to go for innovation in the ME.”
You have an introduction that fractures reality irredeemably, it speaks of “leadership” fostered through its military prowess (same bullshit line used by the US military), and not a peep about what it does internally in Israel, in the occupied territories, and to the surrounding countries. This was the picture displayed at AIPAC 2010, and if you want a BDS which has an impact – that fractures the fabricated image of Israel, this is one of the places you have to go. Go after all of these companies, including Google which proverbially ignore what Israel is doing to paint a picture which is not true -
MEIR BRAND, @ GOOGLE AIPAC 2010
Sp you have to go to the source of WHY these things are happening on YouTube, and understand the web of technological/military – industrial connection, how the money of a American Zionist cadre is made and confounded with the Israeli activity. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and if you do not start with the tip you will never penetrate the massive edifice which the eye cannot see.
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH BRAD HURLEY CEO AND FOUNDER OF YOUTUBE AND MEIR BRAND
So, instead of marveling and wondering about what happened to the YouTube post, and how trademark-ownership is used to smother the message of the Palestinians, and what is truly happening in the colonial nightmare – address reality. This is not an isolated incident, it is something that is highly charged and promoted by these corporations in bed with Israel.
no matter any zionist censorship
truth has to out
that I am, you are, we all are palestinians
such that with the last chain broken
palestine will be free
in a sure to be glorious world of ones dreams
Your poetry is awesome. Thank you.
STL-PSC believes that this is an infringement on freedom of expression and plans to challenge the take-down.
good for you!
welcome anna, thanks for everything you do. this is the Year of the Flash Mob. a huge shout out to STL-PSC.
gunning for the economist, right wing jews are…
link to jewishideasdaily.com
ha! they are going after the economist for their critical article last week.
oh they are all in a tizzy and panties twisted up because israel was seen in a negative light and therefore it is the magazine that has bias..maybe they should consider it is themselves w/the bias.
And look who stands up for The Economist against the right-wing commenters!
i saw that!
Good on Hophmi.. Credit to him!
I think it’s a pretty good comment he posted there:
Obviously that’s not our hophmi.
The only flaw (and it is a major one) is that Obama does not want more war in the ME, but he does want more war. More war is what the elites in this country want, this has always been the case (every twenty years we want a major war). So, as I have said before, remember this post – I do not necessarily enjoy saying these things and than digging them up later (old posts repeatedly), but I don’t think you people will ever learn what is going on – it is hopeless.