Thousands Of Anti-Scientology Videos Taken Down From YouTube Via DMCA Takedowns

from the there's-a-lawsuit-in-here-somewhere dept

Mon, Sep 8th 2008 3:24pm — Mike Masnick

The Church of Scientology is rather notorious for its heavy-handed responses to any critics -- often using copyright claims to stop them from criticizing the organization. The latest is that the EFF is reporting that over 4,000 critical videos have been taken down off of YouTube due to DMCA takedown notices issued by an organization named American Rights Counsel, LLC. Many of the folks who created the videos are immediately filing DMCA counter-notices, meaning that some of the videos are already back up, but it will be interesting to see where this goes.

The EFF hasn't been shy in the past in filing lawsuits against those who issue bogus DMCA takedown notices -- so if it turns out that these are bogus, then expect some lawsuits. In the meantime, it really does make you wonder what whoever issued the takedowns was thinking. This action will only serve to get a lot more attention directed at the critical videos, rather than do anything to silence them.

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Filed Under: dmca, scientology, takedowns, youtube
Companies: google, scientology, youtube

33 Comments

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Anonymous Poster, 8 Sep 2008 @ 3:49pm

EFF vs. The Church of Scientology

This should be fun.
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A noni mouse, 8 Sep 2008 @ 4:02pm

Scientology V EFF
Not quite that I don't think.

It will probably be another of there front groups. The EFF counter suites (which I'm expecting to hear about real soon now) will shut down the front group but the Scientology themselves will be untouched..
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David, 8 Sep 2008 @ 4:13pm

Saw an Anonymous comment on this on Slashdot that I think is definitely worthy of linking to here. Perhaps the Scientologists realized that to contest the DMCA takedowns, people need to identify themselves, which has proven detrimental to people in the past. There's a reason the main group that is fighting them are calling themselves Anonymous. It's because it's the only defense against a cult that fights dirty.
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Babs, 8 Sep 2008 @ 4:14pm

Viva la Streisand!
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NullOp, 8 Sep 2008 @ 4:15pm

First Amendment
This sort of thing usually devolves into a first amendment question where both parties believe it applies only to them!
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Paul Brinker, 8 Sep 2008 @ 4:15pm

All the vids got put back up
All the Scientology people did was make there bad rep more well known, Since the front company was fake.

why are they still allowed to exist anyway?
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wasnt me!, 8 Sep 2008 @ 4:25pm

idk Church of Scientology has loads of money to burn...
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2008 @ 5:02pm

Re:
...and people...
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YoMamma, 8 Sep 2008 @ 5:03pm

ahh great
Ooh goodie goodie.

Now I have some time to catch up on all the Jesus-bashing vids. Those would never be taken down.
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TheOldFart, 8 Sep 2008 @ 5:50pm

Re:
"because it's the only defense against a cult that fights dirty."

Er... considering that cults play dirty all the time are there any on the planet that do not also fight dirty?

Honesty and openness will destroy any cult, and Scientology and the freaks that follow it cannot allow critical examination of their spewage any more than the cults of the 700 Club, the Vatican, Rev. Moon, Kim Jung Il, the Church Universal and Triumphant, LDS or any other cult you can name.

They can sue everyone on the planet but that still doesn't change their beliefs in levitation, magic bread and wine, magic underwear, magic penises, magic hairstyles and magic numbers. They're still just plain ridiculous and anyone who believes such crap in the 21st century is a freak of nature.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2008 @ 5:58pm

Re:
Yea Right

Scientology has more resources and is not above using them in extreme ways that would make any mafioso proud.

After EFF resources are depleted who will then provide protection?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2008 @ 6:02pm

Church of Scientology is a CULT!

WORTHLESS LOSERS!

Self Worshipers!

SUE ME BiAtChs!
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ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 8 Sep 2008 @ 6:08pm

Bastards
And once again youtube shows no interest in stepping up against an obvious abuse of the 'community' it claims it nurtures.

Don't be surprised when they all leave you. A sin of omission can be evil too.
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Matt, 8 Sep 2008 @ 6:20pm

All of you...
ALL of you are a bunch of Xenu-loving scum! Hail L. Ron!

Sorry, but any "religion" that is based on an admitted con artist and crappy writer... A religion that preaches as dogma that an evil alien warlord banished disloyal servants to a backwater planet that he then nuked into oblivion... And THEN blames the spirits of those exiled dissidents for all the ills of modern society... shouldn't be allowed to exist. Most religion is a little hokey when you get down to the meat of the matter, but this is a whole 'nother thing.

Take a page from the Germans and ban the bastards outright.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Sep 2008 @ 6:59pm

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
There are criminal penalties for false DMCA takedown notices.

Were my hosting company to receive one regarding a Scientology document or video, I would refuse to honor it. That would put the responsibility for any further action back on the complainer. They would have to perfect their claim by establishing the existence of a registered copyright for the claimed offending material, followed by convincing a Federal Prosecutor to file criminal charges against me.

Ain't gonna happen.

Before that could happen, they would have to have filed a fully conforming DMCA notice that includes every one of the 6 essential elements, including the complainant's identification and contact information.

A host is not required to respond, much less honor, a takedown notice that is defective on any of those 6 points.

That opens the door to legal retaliation, civil and criminal against the false filer.

Booogity booogity boogity. Scare tactics backfire when confronted.
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crazycultist, 8 Sep 2008 @ 9:01pm

Re: Re:
And what silliness do you believe I wonder. i have found that those who think everyone is in a cult has truly bizarre beliefs.
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kol, 8 Sep 2008 @ 9:18pm

Re: Re:
What is the definition of a cult to you. According to the dictionary every religion is a cult. Most the time people call other religions cults when they don't really know what they believe, but think they do. Calling any religion a cult is pointless because it's all based on opinion. I'm not defending Scientology but I'm pretty sure you don't know what most of the religions you listed believe.
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ben, 8 Sep 2008 @ 9:23pm

Re: Re:
What makes people feel they have the right to say that just because somebody believes in something that they personaly don't believe they are a freak. It's our right as Americans to bieleve in whatever religon (or cult as some peole would call it) they so feel like, and it's also our right to not like some but to call them freaks is just wrong.
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Enrico Suarve, 9 Sep 2008 @ 3:18am

Re: Re: Re:
Ad-hominems attacks like "freak" are used I feel in response to various peoples deep rooted disgust at the actions taken by the church of scientology and it's various illegal methods

I don't condone "freak" but understand the frustration causing people to reac in this way

As Americans it is your right to beleive what you want but not your right to commit criminal acts and then abuse the system to get away with it - hence the frustration on the part of others
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Sep 2008 @ 9:28am

Re: Bastards
While I agree with you, the "safe-harbor" provisions for service providers that exist in the DMCA are rendered moot if said provider starts rendering judgements as to the validity of specific claims. OTOH, the original submitter can file back with an equally valid DMCA counter-claim, in which case the content is restored.
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Sierra Night Tide, 9 Sep 2008 @ 10:58am

Definitions of cult
* followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices
* fad: an interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season"
* followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader
* a religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, or false; "it was a satanic cult"
* a system of religious beliefs and rituals; "devoted to the cultus of the Blessed Virgin"
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Sep 2008 @ 12:30pm

All Religion is pretty stupid . . .
The Scientologists and Mormons only look crazier then Christians and Jews, becuase thier religion lacks the mysterious patina of time.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Sep 2008 @ 12:32pm

Re: All Religion is pretty stupid . . .
"The Scientologists and Mormons only look crazier then Christians and Jews, becuase thier religion lacks the mysterious patina of time."

500 hundred years ago, making fun of the Christian church would get you burned at the steak. Frankly it makes Scientology seem reasonable.
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Wolfy, 9 Sep 2008 @ 1:03pm

"because it's the only defense against a cult that fights dirty."
Heads up! It's RELIGION that fights dirty... cults may fight a teensy bit dirtier... but religion has no place for rationality.
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Wolfy, 9 Sep 2008 @ 1:07pm

Re: Re: Re:
Ben, there is this document called the "Bill of Rights" that gives us Americans a right called "Free Speech". It gives me the right to call you or any group anything I wish. The religionists use terms vastly more insulting than "freak" to describe people or groups that they deem disagreeable.
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Wolfy, 9 Sep 2008 @ 1:11pm

Re: Re: All Religion is pretty stupid . . .
I'm pretty sure you meant "Stake".
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David, 10 Sep 2008 @ 1:37am

Take-downs
"Interesting" perspective from my viewpoint here in the UK. I read elsewhere that the so-called "American Rights Counsel, LLC" doesn`t actually exist. Anyone confirm that?
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Sep 2008 @ 5:07am

Re: Take-downs
"'Interesting' perspective from my viewpoint here in the UK. I read elsewhere that the so-called "American Rights Counsel, LLC" doesn`t actually exist. Anyone confirm that?"

Oh it definately exists. I hear its staffed exclusively by Latin American day laborers Tom Cruise picks up out front of Lowes.
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Motorcycle Fairings, 25 Nov 2008 @ 7:50pm

It is interesting that a video who already was of a public domain, can cause so much damage to a bussines. I think is more of the cases were business take to court some of this issues. All about money.
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Home Decor, 8 Jan 2009 @ 1:21pm

Was Tom Cruise informed about it? he is going to be really mad when he finds out! Trust me, he'll be very upset with that.
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No Fee Tickets, 4 Mar 2009 @ 10:12am

Will they Take down Cconcert Videos
This is crazy. They will soon take down anything offending to anyone, including music, sports and concert videos.
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grietje, 18 Jun 2009 @ 3:08pm

Re: All the vids got put back up
Because this is a fee country.... we have freedom of speach,Scientology is nothing to get hung up about .... go get a life! Feed the world... find a girl/boyfriend ...buy an icecream.....do something good today......take a deep breath...go walk in the park....give peace a chanse.....find your own happiness.....become a bornagain christian,muslim,catholic,aithiest,budist,calm down it's only life, have a nice day.The word cult I was told just means hidden! don't worry be happy
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Anonymous Coward, 22 May 2013 @ 9:05am

Re: Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
Makes you wonder why the hell google, youtube, etc don't use the same tactics, if only to lower their cost of handling the millions of requests they received... a good proportion of which are completely bogus...
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