Background: Yesterday (Oct. 13), the McCain/Palin campaign complained to YouTube about the processing of take down requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The letter is here.
The following statement is attributed to Gigi B. Sohn, president and co-founder of Public Knowledge:
“It is ironic that the McCain/Palin campaign sent its letter to YouTube complaining about that company’s take-down procedures on the same day that President Bush signed the Pro-IP Act, which is yet another bill written by the big media companies that adds yet more imbalance to our copyright laws.
“The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was originally designed by, and for, the big media companies. The concepts of fair use then, as now, are largely ignored or shuffled off to the side when any Congressional discussion of copyright law takes place. The DMCA passed in 1998 without a hint of opposition in the House and in the Senate. YouTube was abiding by the rules that Congress set up when it took down the videos about which the McCain/Palin campaign complained.
“Perhaps next year, Congress will consider taking a look at the beneficial effects fair use has on society, including on political speech.”
Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.