Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

1.  

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:30am

   
   

   The video in question can and does create the impression that Beiber supports the cause - which he apparently does not. That by itself should be more than enough to get it pulled.

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

2.  

   

   John Doe, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:40am

   
   

   Do as I say, not as I do

   Maybe Justin is a belieber in the old phrase "do as I say, not as I do"?

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

3.  

   

   AJ (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:40am

   
   

   LOL... Dude's balls haven't dropped, and he's already sending cease and desist letters. America's funking up faster than an out-house at a chili cook off!

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

4.  

   

   Doubletwist (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:40am

   
   

   I don't know, this is a law that could have prevented the Justin Beiber phenomenon. That's a pretty strong argument in favor of it if you ask me. :)
   
   /sorry I just couldn't resist.

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

5.  

   

   Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:41am

   
   

   Apparently little rich boy forgot where he came from. He needs to come out against this law. He owes this to future reiterations of himself.

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

6.  

   

   John Doe, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:45am

   
   

   Re:

   He has been assimilated by the labels now and will have to tow the party line.

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

7.  

   

   fogbugzd (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:46am

   
   

   Beiber and his managers are now insiders who benefit from the existing system. Now their first instinct is to pull up the ladders to keep others from climbing aboard.

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

8.  

   

   That Anonymous Coward (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:47am

   
   

   Dear Beebs,
   Please show us all how serious you are. Retire from the public eye and regain your precious privacy.
   
   kthksbai
   TAC

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

9.  

   

   Overcast (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 7:52am

   
   

   haha, it's like the RIAA fighting itself.

    

   [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

10.  

    

    anonymous, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:02am

    
    

    Re: Do as I say, not as I do

    not far wrong there. some people have very short memories!

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

11.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:06am

    
    

    Re:

    Simply because his image appears in the film? The standard must be higher than that otherwise it would be impossible to reference a person to make a point ever.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

12.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:08am

    
    

    This is awesome. Fuck Shaw, Lessig et al. for their cynical attempt at using artists to further their own selfish agenda.
    
    Some people are so blinded by greed that can't tell when karma has finally arrived to slap them in the face.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

13.  

    

    :Lobo Santo (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:10am

    
    

    Teh Man?

    Proof perhaps that living in a police state sucks!... right up until you become one of the people who benefit from said police state.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

14.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:27am

    
    

    Re: Re:

    It isn't only that his image appears, rather that his name and likeness are used as the "front" for the campaign. "Free Beiber" suggests that the Beebs is somehow locked up and wants to be freed, which from the legal nastygram suggests is just not true.
    
    Using his name, his likeness, and such as the front of the campaign crosses the line. I am actually sort of disappointed in the EFF on this one, because really they should be about fighting the fight, and not about creating new issues to deal with.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

15.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:42am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re:

    That's your argument, that someone might actually think Beiber is in jail? That's pretty weak, certainly not the open and shut you make it out to be. Even if there was actually a significant risk of confusion over Beiber's status that wouldn't be the end of the debate. It's not automatically a right of publicity violation to say 'Biber is in jail' even if he's not just because he's famous.
    
    I don't think 1st amendment issues are 'new issues' EFF is 'creating' as much as they've always been an issue with copyright and publicity right enforcement that the EFF addresses when they are created by others, in this case Beiber's lawyers.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

16.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:43am

    
    

    Re:

    The irony here, it is staggering.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

17.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:44am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re:

    If it was being called Free Me by Justin Beiber you may have a point. Free Beiber suggests that there is a group of people who wish to free Justin Beiber from something. It doesn't imply in any way that he's supporting it or wants to be freed.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

18.  

    

    The Logician (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:49am

    
    

    The term "Beiber" may come to be known to refer to the act of attacking in some fashion those who are attempting to support you. Much as the legacy entertainment industries do to their customers. They choose to Beiber them rather than address their needs and concerns.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

19.  

    

    iamtheky (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:50am

    
    

    Dear Ms. Mcsherry,
    
    I realize you are a lawyer and located on Wilshire Blvd. But it is in California, where putting 'Esquire' after your name makes you look as douchetastic as the person you are responding to.
    
    Unless of course you are Bill S. Preston, Esquire.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

20.  

    

    Hannah B. (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 8:56am

    
    

    Bieber's views

    "Whoever she is, she needs to know that I’m saying she needs to be locked up, put away in cuffs." - Justin Bieber on Senator Amy Klobuchar's efforts to pass the copyright bill.
    
    Somehow, I don't think he minds this parody all that much, but the suits in charge of him very well might.
    
    http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/justin-bieber-amy-klobuchar-needs-to-be-locked- up-audio.php

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

21.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 9:02am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re: Re:

    EFF is creating an issue (with Beiber) that didn't exist before their campaign. They shouldn't be the ones creating the problems, should they?
    
    As for Beiber, if he doesn't want his name associated with the campaign, why should he be forced to do so? Can we use him to sell used cars too?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

22.  

    

    Designerfx (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 9:05am

    
    

    Re:

    Just because you state this, doesn't mean it's fact. Quite the opposite. also, hello bieber lawyer and/or someone on that legal team! we know how this works.
    
    "keep bieber free from copyright" doesn't mean bieber has anything to do with the cause other than being affected by it.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

23.  

    

    Chronno S. Trigger (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 9:19am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    The EFF didn't create the issue, they're just continuing the issue created by the SOPA bill.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

24.  

    

    Gwiz (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 9:25am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re:

    It isn't only that his image appears, rather that his name and likeness are used as the "front" for the campaign. "Free Beiber" suggests that the Beebs is somehow locked up and wants to be freed, which from the legal nastygram suggests is just not true.
    
    Yeah, I know what you mean there. I thought that the "Occupy Wall Street" movement was an advertising push from the New York commercial real estate folks who wanted to fill all those empty office spaces.
    
    But, then again, I might just be a moron in a hurry.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

25.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 9:27am

    
    

    Re:

    Seriously, when will the labels realize?

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

26.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 10:12am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    Yawn. Let me add this: If the campaign was called "free corey smith" would it be as successful or high profile? If the answer is no, then you know they are trading of Beiber's good name, and you know that the EFF lawyer is being somewhat less than honest about it.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

27.  

    

    Jay (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 10:48am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

    *Yawn*
    
    He made money off of success on Youtube, and has come out openly against the antistreaming bill. Obviously, Bieber's good name is not being damaged by pointing out how the way he paved for success is being taken away for others.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

28.  

    

    Atkray (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 10:52am

    
    

    Re:

    arrrgh now I need to go watch 4 hrs of Bill and Ted tonight instead of doing homework.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

29.  

    

    btr1701 (profile), Oct 28th, 2011 @ 10:55am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re:

    > Using his name, his likeness, and such as
    > the front of the campaign crosses the line.
    
    The law seems to find differently than you:
    
    As for the purported right of publicity violations, state laws have long recognized that a celebrity's interest in his or her image must be balanced against the public's interest in free speech. For example, the Caifornia Code explicitly immunizes uses made with the celebrity's consent "in connection with any news, public affairs, or sports broadcast or account, or ANY POLITICAL CAMPAIGN. (emphasis added) Cal. Civ. Code § 3344(d). Moreover, fair uses of Mr. Bieber's likeness-- such as those on display at the freebieber.org website-- are subject to the fullest 1st Amendment protections. Hoffman v. Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., 255 F.3d 1180, 1186 (9th Cir. 2001); Comedy III Prods., Inc. v. Saderup, 25 Cal. 4th 387, 134 (Cal. 2001) ("the very importance of celebrities in society means that the right of publicity has the potential of censoring significant expression by suppressing alternative versions of celebrity images that are iconoclastic, irreverent, or otherwise attempt to redefine the celebrity's meaning"). This is especially true where, as here, the images are transformative and obviously do not impinge on the celebrity's market for his own image. Id. at 405; Gionfriddo v. Major League Baseball, 94 Cal. App. 4th 400, 415 (Cal. Ct. App. 2001).

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

30.  

    

    Digitari, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 11:18am

    
    

    RE

    I hope it passes, and is made retro active as well, then toss Biebers butt in the slam, and forget about him....
    
    "well, we tried to help, however.........

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

31.  

    

    FuzzyDuck, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 11:59am

    
    

    Re: Re: Re:

    If this sort of campaign weren't allowed to refer to public figures, than you wouldn't be allowed to make any clip about any public figure. If you make a clip to criticize the president, you're using his name and appearance, violating his "privacy" and "publicity rights"...

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

32.  

    

    Anonymous Coward, Oct 28th, 2011 @ 12:32pm

    
    

    Although his music makes my ears bleed, I have some newfound respect for this kid:
    
    http://arstechnica.com/#!/tech-policy/news/2011/10/justin-bieber-streaming-bill-author-shoul d-be-locked-up.ars

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

Add Your Comment