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The Electric DMCA Slide Into The Ridiculous Zone
from the a-world-gone-mad dept
Rajesh writes in to point out that the guy who claims he owns the copyright on the infamous wedding line dance, "the Electric Slide" is now issuing DMCA takedown notices to people who have put up personal videos of themselves, friends and family doing the dance (usually at weddings). He seems, in part, to be upset that they're doing it wrong, but generally just seems to be upset that he's not getting credit for it. The story is made even more ridiculous when you discover he only recently registered the copyright on the dance and there's a fair bit of controversy over the question of whether or not he really created the dance. While the article does quote Jason Schultz explaining that choreography moves are, in fact, free to be copyrighted, there's a ton of gray area here concerning derivative works and fair use. The idea that someone performing (usually badly) a boring line dance at their wedding and posting it to YouTube should be considered copyright violation seems to go against everything that copyright law is supposed to stand for. The only reason this dance is so damn annoyingly popular in the first place is that it's performed so often. If this guy cracks down on everyone performing it, then he kills off whatever value the dance had.
Reader Comments
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Come on Now
Tell the truth, is there anything that is wrong with something that eliminates "The Electric Slide" from public view?
Sometimes the ends do justify the means.
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He's read the RIAA manual.
Expecially the chapter titled: "How to Shoot Yourself In the Foot With A Fully Automatic Weapon."
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If this is the case..
why hasn't Michael Jackson sued all people who preform his music?
countless dances/orginizations use thriller for halloween bits. i've seen billy jean and smooth criminal on video sites being preformed at weddings.
i mean, in the 06 college football season, the PSU mascot, The Nittany Lion, preformed thriller (along with members of the marching band) AND the Napoleon Dynamite dance. to my knowldege he hasn't been charged.
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Re:
"If this is the case..
why hasn't Michael Jackson sued all people who preform his music?"
If you're referring to cover bands and the like.. There is a Fee schedule in place, paid to the RIAA and distributed to the artists. Anyone who performs someone else's song can do so without permission, assuming they A: Credit them, and B: file the proper forms(Many benjamins) with the RIAA. ;)
I believe that the legal term is Compulsory Licensing.
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Re:
If this is the case..
why hasn't Michael Jackson sued all people who preform his music?
Although maybe a pedophile and/or just plain nutcase, Michael does not appear to be stupid. That is why.
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Re: Re:
Note for Americans:
A "pedophile" is a foot-fancier. A "paedophile" has an unhealthy interest in children. I just thought I'd mention this, as while reading a preceding post I found myself thinking "Hmmm. I didn't know Michael Jackson was into feet..."
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Re: Re: Re:
Actually it's spelled both ways. The foot fetish you are thinking about is actually called podophilia (which is a form of paraphilia)
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if it works....
I don't believe this is really about the DMCA. I think we have found yet one more person taking the DMCA onto their takedown notices. And there is no penalty for sending bad letters, so it will only continue.
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Just one tinnnnnnnny point, though...
If they're doing the dance wrong then they can't be infringing on the copyright of his choreography.
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Whack job!
Maybe next we can get someone to do something about that freakin Chicken Dance....who holds the copyright to that?
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let see
im going to find some electric slide videos and then post them all over the place, lets see if this guy will really sue me...i cant wait...
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Loser Loser Loser!
My brother used to have a PC computer game, and when the game was over, a snively voice would tell you that you were a 'loser, loser, looo-ser!' If I had that sound file right now, I would email it to this moron. He could have had so much fun with this dance thing, maybe offering to show up for free at wedding rehearsals to show everyone how to do his stupid dance 'the right way.' That might have attracted positive media attention. Instead, he looks like a whiny loser.
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Now I know this guy is full of hot air! My uncle invented the electric slide back in 1974!
My parents always wondered why I canme back from his house and all my hair was sticking up....
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I think I am going to patent breathing. That way I can issue a cease and desist letter every time some one is being stupid about patents. Problem solved!
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from the article
The idea that someone performing (usually badly) a boring line dance at their wedding and posting it to YouTube should be considered copyright violation seems to go against everything that copyright law is supposed to stand for.
the concept of copyright is to encourage others to produce.
the reality of copyright is money.
this idiot thinks he can get money from people, which is really what copyright is all about... making people pay you.
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Yeah right!
Good luck trying to sue everyone that's done that dance even if you just count since when he filed for this bogus copyright.
Here is my question: What band/group did the original song?
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Re: Yeah right!
The music was written by Bunny Wailer and recorded with Bob Marley playing and Marcia Griffith singing
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AMERICA HAS GONE INSANE!!!!!!!!
There should be a "Darwin Law". People should be put on trial for being too stupid and a danger to society. Such as this person. They should be sent off to some far away island. And then we can put camera's all over the island and it will be a 24-hour a day reality show, with multiple channel streams, online or on air. Then they can have traps and animals and such and see how long they can survive for. It will be awesome. And every once in a while we'll get lucky and have some celebrities on there, it will be like a weekend special. Just imagine the ratings once Paris & Nicky Hilton are sent there. Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, K-Fed. I'm telling you, huge ratings here, and we get rid of stupid people who are ruining society.
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Note for Anonymous Coward
"Pedophile" is not a foot-fancier, just as a "pediatrician" is not a foot doctor. A foot doctor is a "podiatrist", so if there were a way to mash that into a philia, then I suppose it would have to be "podiaphile" or something similar.
"Car" is spelled "Auto" in many languages ... that does not make one any less the exact same thing.
Go nazi somewhere else.
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