EFF Sues Barney Producers over Spoof Sites 154
PetManimal writes "The Electronic Frontier Foundation is suing the company that produces 'Barney and Friends' for harassing the creator of a Barney parody Web site. Barney producers Lyons Partnership has threatened lawsuits over the past few years against Stuart Frankel and his parody site, actions which the EFF says violates freedom of speech and fair use laws. The parody site contains doctored images of Barney, and claims the purple dinosaur is the Antichrist. From the article: 'Lyons Partnership has sent multiple cease-and-desist letters to Frankel for a Web page that includes a depiction of the fuzzy purple dinosaur as Satan. In an October letter, Lyons demands that Frankel immediately take down copyrighted images of Barney. The company threatens to take legal action or contact Frankel's Internet service provider if he doesn't comply.'"
So will I be sued for my Hulk stuff? (Score:3, Interesting)
P.S. Satire is protected speech - doesn't that apply here in the Barney case?
Did the lawyers read the dmca law? (Score:4, Interesting)
That being said, such a court ruling would almost be automatic. Parody sites are protected, I helped one of my clients stand up against the big bad e-bay and they won. I'd post a link, but
I've never, ever seen someone threaten to go to the isp *last*
At this point their lawyers saying anything other than "Duh!" would be almost as comical as the parody itself.
What a world.
Re:Did the lawyers read the dmca law? (Score:5, Interesting)
Basically, forcing the host to be a pass through of information or just to take it down. Effectively removing the host as a protector of the site. (I.e. "we just host it, you need to contact the webmaster" while the webmaster has no available contacts and is trying to remain anonymous.)
The operator does NOT need to show proof of anything other than that they are aware of the notice the host recieved and that they are contesting it. So "no, it's not a violation, put it back." is good enough.
At that point, the host is out of it and it's between the operator and the person or company that is complaining. Otherwise, you are asking the host to act as an agent of the court, or to BE the court.
Speaking about the Antichrist angle... (Score:3, Interesting)
1. Barney is well-described with the following phrase:
CUTE PURPLE DINOSAUR
2. The old Latin alphabet used the letter 'V' in place of 'U', therefore the above phrase is modified to:
CVTE PVRPLE DINOSAVR
3. Letters that do not represent Roman numerals are removed:
CV-- -V--L- DI----V-
4. Add up the Roman numerals of the remaining letters:
C + V + V + L + D + I + V
100 + 5 + 5 + 50 + 500 + 1 + 5 = 666, which is the Number of the Beast.
5. Therefore, Barney is considered Satan.
HA! Because Numerology is TOTALY admisable in court!
BarneySplat! (Score:3, Interesting)
Someone should put that in a VMware image so everyone today can enjoy it.
Re:Barney's got a brand new bag (Score:1, Interesting)
No.
But this guy should get in touch with the guy who did the video animations of Barbie getting bent over the (top down) back seat of her BarbieMobile (prolly tm) by Ken. Along with many other hilarious sexual exploits. Barbie's legal bitches went after him, but the judge sided with the maker of the parody videos.