Streisand To Publish An Entire Book Detailing The Malibu Home She Once Wanted To Keep Very, Very Secret

from the the-streisand-effect-book dept

Fri, Jun 5th 2009 6:22pm — Mike Masnick

Well, this is amusing. As you may know, a few years back, I coined the phrase "The Streisand Effect" to describe the situation where someone tries to force some content to be taken down, in an attempt to suppress it -- but, in doing so, winds up driving much more attention to the content. The name came from a lawsuit filed in 2003 by Barbara Streisand against environmentalist/photographer Ken Adelman, who had been photographing the entire California coast from a helicopter in order to document coastal erosion. Of course, in trying to have her photo taken off of his site, it generated significantly more interest in that particular photograph. Streisand eventually lost the lawsuit and was even ordered to pay nearly $200,000 in legal fees.

Of course, since then, the phrase "The Streisand Effect" has become fairly popular and in common usage -- and has been featured in Forbes, Associated Press articles and on NPR's All Things Considered -- and has even been translated into other languages. All because Streisand didn't want a distant photo of her Malibu home on the internet.

Thus, it's with some level of irony that we find out (thanks Stephen!) that Streisand is now putting together a book about the architecture of that very home including numerous photos of the home and property. Perhaps Ken Adelman should sue for helping her to realize that there was "demand" for photos of her Malibu home.

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Filed Under: architecture, barbara streisand, book, home, streisand effect

31 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2009 @ 6:58pm

"Of course, since then, the phrase "The Streisand Effect" has become fairly popular"

At least in your own mind. Try not to break your arm patting yourself on the back.
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- PaulT (profile), 6 Jun 2009 @ 12:31am
  
  Re:
  From Google:
  
  "Results 1 - 10 of about 21,800 for "streisand effect". (0.23 seconds)"
  
  21,800 hits for a term, including a website named www.thestreisandeffect.com and mentions by mainstream news organisations on the first page. That counts as fairly popular, IMHO.
  
  Which terms have you coined that other people use more?
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  - Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2009 @ 4:53am
    
    Re: Re:
    I would rather cause the effects then name them.
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    - Cap'n Jack (profile), 8 Jun 2009 @ 12:42am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      So... You'd rather be Barbara Streisand?
      
      Have fun with that.
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  - another mike (profile), 9 Jun 2009 @ 4:02pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I helped coin Scrabulous Effect. "When pursuing your legal rights is an epic fail business decision."
    
    From Google:
    
    "Results 1 - 10 of about 52,700 for "scrabulous effect". (0.32 seconds)
    
    Almost 31,000 hits more popular. Sorry lol.
    
    And I've got the first and second results.
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- Bish, 6 Jun 2009 @ 12:47am
  
  Re:
  Actually, the phrase "Streisand Effect" is commonly understood at work with the techies and at home with the family and friends. Seems to *be* quite popular, and I'm surprised to hear it's not, in some places.
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RD, 5 Jun 2009 @ 7:12pm

Uh...
I think Forbes and NPR are sufficient evidence of being used outside of this forum.

Why dont you go back to your little troll cave, alone (because you cant get a girl) and crawl under your little troll rock and leave the comments to the real people, 'kay?
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- Anonymous Coward, 5 Jun 2009 @ 7:17pm
  
  Re: Uh...
  tee-hee. My girlfriend thinks you are a winner.
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Anonymous Hero, 5 Jun 2009 @ 7:15pm

As the person who innocently tagged Streisand's house on Adelman's wonderful site, it is -I- who gets full credit for "the Streisand Effect."
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RD, 5 Jun 2009 @ 7:29pm

GF
She is obviously the brains of your outfit.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2009 @ 12:17am

who cares!
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Jim Rob Jones, 6 Jun 2009 @ 7:00am

The Masnick Effect
I'll coin a phrase too "The Masnick Effect". That's when an idiot blogger writes posts trying to convince others of his own self importance. Seriously, did you give it half a thought before you ran this moronic post? You're a tool Masnick. Wow you coined a psuedo-clever phrase. You're amazing. Is that the whole point of this blog? For you to feel better about yourself? If that's the case you have failed miserably. You should feel like a "Masnick". Oh wait look at that I coined another phrase. Maybe Forbes will start using that one too. Keep up these "Masnick" posts and you'll lose your audience entirely. You've been RIMMED! - Jim Rob.
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- Headbhang, 6 Jun 2009 @ 9:21am
  
  Re:
  What a sad, bitter troll you are, Jim Rob.
  
  By the way, your name sounds dorky, like the retarded character of a cheap soap opera. I would stick to James Robert if I had the misfortune of being you. It sounds more like someone who is more than a pathetic internet troll envious of people who have done something of at least some popularity.
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- Derek Kerton (profile), 7 Jun 2009 @ 12:33pm
  
  Re: The Masnick Effect
  I think the point is that you can coin whatever you want, but it probably won't enter into common parlance.
  
  Not to make a personal attack on you, because as we both know, that's puerile, but any phrase you coin is unlikely to gain traction because your style of writing is not one conducive to getting common support.
  
  You see, as a hater, you may find some success. We've seen it plenty in talk radio. But you also have to be witty, clever, fast on your feet, and make arguments that are decent at the top layer. Hate will only carry you so far.
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- another mike (profile), 9 Jun 2009 @ 3:49pm
  
  Re: The Masnick Effect
  Your search skills fail hard. There is already a Masnick Effect. It refers to industry incumbents who, when presented with a new business model that can save their industry, point out all sorts of meaningless exceptions for why it can't work, only to be shown more models where it does. From the article linked above: "It only works for bands with established bases. Or bands that have no base, and nothing to lose. Or bands that have some fans, and are trying to attract more."
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theskyrider (profile), 6 Jun 2009 @ 7:29am

The Jim Rob Jones Effect
What you call when a person's skin starts turning various shades of green, the ears and nose grow to point, all the hair falls out, and they get a sudden sensitivity to sunlight and the urge to hide under bridges.

Hurry before the Troll Catchers (TM) come and get you.

Now that I'm done with that, I will just say congrats to Mike for coining a phrase that is in widespread usage. (I didn't know you coined the phrase until now, so the kudos are well-deserved if not just because they were self-given.)

Anyways, do you think you should patent, trademark, or copyright the term so that you can extort Barbara for some dough? Just kidding.

I am glad that The Streisand Effect (P.P. TM (C)) took hold, I may not be a fan of her music, but I loved to see her house.
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2009 @ 9:06am

I am just being a fuck tard
please forgive me.
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rvg, 6 Jun 2009 @ 1:19pm

Leave Streisand alone you dirt bag.

As you know, Streisand has the most glorious voice and the greatest star on this planet. Anything said against her will feel the ire of people who loves her.
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sam, 6 Jun 2009 @ 2:02pm

Sex
Is there anything about sex or sex slaves in this book? Otherwise I am not buying it.
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G. Illilac, 6 Jun 2009 @ 6:25pm

So are why do we care about Streisand's home? Can I copyright my apathetic affect?
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G. Illilac, 6 Jun 2009 @ 6:26pm

So are why do we care about Streisand's home? Can I copyright my apathetic affect?
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Anonymous Coward, 6 Jun 2009 @ 10:41pm

PLEASE DON'T FEED THE TROLLS.
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RIffRaff (profile), 7 Jun 2009 @ 6:24am

Barbara who? Is she still alive?
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Shawn Davis, 7 Jun 2009 @ 9:41am

Wow. You coined a phrase. Aren't you the coolest?
Jeesh. Wish I could coin a phrase too.
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J. Caesar, 7 Jun 2009 @ 10:02am

Prior art
I actually coined the phrase "purgamentum meretricis presencia" long before Streisand was born.

--Julius Caesar
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Sack Full, 7 Jun 2009 @ 10:23am

Just jump in there
Pardon me while I work up enough energy to give a crap.
OH! I just coined a phrase! I'm gonna be FAMOUS!
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dev, 7 Jun 2009 @ 10:28am

The full cycle
The full cycle of the Streisand Effect reveals itself.

1) Try to suppress information
2) Information becomes more publicized.
3) Profit, by revealing information
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Potato Head, 7 Jun 2009 @ 1:51pm

Legal Fees
Gotta pay those fees, why not a book of what she drew all the attention too?

Not a mad move at all.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2009 @ 11:07pm

Streisand
I wonder if Streisand is aware of the phrase? I bet she's narcissistic enough to think it's a compliment.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Jun 2009 @ 2:07am

Is it just me... but isn't it all the same stuff?

EG: Person A does something... so

we can all call it the Person A effect?

Isn't that extremely obvious ?
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Since I am a stright person and probably will get, 8 Jun 2009 @ 9:34am

Barbara Streisand is all about money and JEWISH BULL SHIT!
Guys
If you are
white
stright
work for a living
have a wife
sent your children to college
donated blood and is NOT HIV positive therefore killed nobody
served in the military

You are trash!!!
125,000 US citizens died in WWII 10% were Jews, 65,000 died in Vietnam 236 were JEWS what HAPPENED? They got smart and went to Hollywood
Even a tramp , shit looking cheap flicka like Barbara could make there.
Good for them, did I mention Grandma was Jewish? I avoided Nam.......although insisted on NOT being gay!
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