Olympic committee rethinks copyright infringement claim on YouTube
The International Olympic Committee has retracted a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown request it sent to YouTube over a Tibetan protest video.
According to Corynne McSherry, an attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the IOC requested earlier this week that YouTube remove the video called "Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony." The video, posted by Students for a Free Tibet, is a montage of scenes from Tibet protests around the world. The Olympic rings are shown in the video briefly a couple times.
YouTube initially removed the video, but subsequently questioned whether the IOC could truly file a DMCA claim and asked the group to withdraw its takedown notice. The EFF also questioned the IOC on its copyright infringement claims. The IOC retracted its request, and the video was reposted. (Warning: The video, shown below, contains some graphic images.)
The IOC has been working with YouTube to provide content as well as to monitor for copyright violations.
McSherry said that such takedown requests have little to do with copyright infringement, but are instead "timed to directly interfere with the impact of a political message."
YouTube has not yet responded to a request by CNET News for comment.
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Stephanie Condon is a staff writer for CNET News focused on the intersection of technology and politics. She is based in Washington, D.C. E-mail Stephanie. 
If a notice is given, then nothing should happen without a chance for response by the alleged violator. The law as it is written offers little protection against abuse.
- by ianbetteridge August 19, 2008 5:29 AM PDT
- I would bet that someone charged with monitoring YouTube at the IOC took one look at the title, didn't bother to watch the video, and put in motion the DMCA request.
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