Gangnam Style Shows What Can Happen When You Don't Lean On Copyright

from the well,-look-at-that... dept

Tue, Oct 2nd 2012 1:00pm — Mike Masnick

Unless you've been living under a rock the past few weeks, you're by now aware of Gangnam Style, the meme/song/video/dance craze/pop culture phenomenon by Korean pop star Psy, that was kicked off with this video, but has become much, much, much more. Of course, there have been thousands of parody videos created, different versions of the song and a variety of other meme-related content. I was at a wedding a week and a half ago, and basically everyone there, including many of the "older generation," were well aware of the song and ready to do the dance when the DJ played it. It's basically everywhere. It's become so popular that, this week, an attempt to do the video without the music but adding back in the "natural" sound effects, is pushing 6 million views all by itself.

Oh yeah, and the song is doing quite well on the charts as well. The song is currently at number 2 on the Billboard charts, but has recently hit number one in 10 countries, including the UK and Australia. Down in Australia, for the publication TheVine, Tim Byron explores the cultural phenomenon and notes that this appears to be the first song that started as a meme that made it to number one on the charts. Other songs have charted and then became memes, or were memes that charted -- but not as high.

But, then, in the middle of the discussion, Byron makes a really interesting point:

One of Psy's cannier moves has apparently been to waive copyright on 'Gangnam Style' so that anybody can use the music and the video as they like. Most of the social media response to 'Call Me Maybe' is basically different ways to say 'this song is really catchy'. Once 'Call Me Maybe' truly became a famous meme, the meme was largely specifically about how catchy it was. 'Gangnam Style' is different. The social media response to 'Gangnam Style' is largely about absurdity, about the surrealism of the song and the video, not really about music for music's sake. 'Gangnam Style' has become an event. It's a piece of shared cultural currency which can be taken as known in a world which is increasingly nicheified.

I don't know if Psy or his label has actually done anything explicit to say that he's "waived" his copyright on Gangnam Style, but it is clear that he's been perfectly happy to have tons of folks make their own versions, edit the video and much much more. Each one of those things only seems to drive much more attention to the original, which only helps Psy out even more.

So, even if it's not really true that he's "waived" the copyright on the song or video, can anyone honestly argue that copyright has had a significant hand in the Gangnam Style cultural phenomenon? If anything, it's the fact that everyone ignores the copyright that has made it such a big deal. A large percentage of those derivative works and videos almost certainly "infringe" upon the copyright of both the song and the video. And yet each and every one of those "infringements" has probably helped Psy. You'd be hard pressed to find a single case where it has hurt him.

Hell, just imagine a world in which everyone making those response videos would have needed to get permission from Psy or his label. Does anyone think that, under those circumstances, it would be the same sort of cultural phenomenon today? Obviously, there's no way it would be anywhere close to as big.

In other words, whether or not Psy waived his copyrights, it's difficult to argue that copyright has had anything to do with his success with Gangnam Style and it seems clear that it is the fact that most people ignored copyright that has helped spread the song and video so far and wide.

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Filed Under: copyright, culture, gangnam style, meme, psy

105 Comments

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Alana (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:02pm

Funny story, yesterday I was thinking of pointing to Gangnam Style as an example of what would happen if things WEREN'T region blocked all to hell.

Imagine if it were only available in Korea. Would it have blown to this level of popularity? No.

Example #39 why region blocking is a stupid idea.
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Joe, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:10pm

Big in Japan, or not
I was chatting with a Japanese girl over the weekend. She had never heard of Gangnam style. Apparently in Japan, it's just not happening.
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- Alana (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:16pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  So hey, this one person hasn't heard of it in America yet, that means that the entirety of America hasn't heard of Gangnam Style. /eyeroll
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Scott, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:42pm
    
    Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
    At least I'm the only one who can't stand it.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:52pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
      YOU ARE MISSING THE POINT!
      http://youtu.be/rX372ZwXOEM
      
      Look at that crowd. If nothing else excites you, this should.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Chosen Reject (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:01pm
    
    Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
    Well, of course. I hadn't heard of it yet, so naturally the rest of America couldn't have.
    
    Excuse while I crawl back under my rock.
    
    By the way, I saw my shadow while I was out, so expect six more weeks of summer.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Joe, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:18pm
    
    Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
    Possible, one person is hardly a scientific poll. However, demographically, she was mid 20's with a wide circle of friends, which is dead on for meme's like this, so I'm going to double down and say while it can't be proven with the information at hand, my strong suspicion is Gangnam style is significantly less popular in Japan than in the West. Any Japanese readers care to toss in?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:33pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
      Sprinkling in English probably helped in the west some.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Richard (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:19pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  Japan - Korea - not surprised by that
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Jay (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:27pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  Japan is busy locking down their culture. The same is going on in the Phillippines where just recently, they had their own SOPA style moment recently.
  
  Further, Japan has had a recession since 1995 and no one has the ability to really invest a lot of money on entertainment. IIRC, TV consumption is going down along with internet usage. The prices are too high and the Fukushima incident has kept them occupied.
  
  So I think they have quite a few things to worry about besides this one meme.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- E. Zachary Knight (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:36pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  I am an American and only learned of the song last week. The only reason I learned of it was because of one of the parodies that Mike talks about. I had a hearty belly laugh as I watched the original.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Gwiz (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:05pm
    
    Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
    I heard about it on Sept. 12. Only because my wife watches Good Morning America every morning and they did a bit about it.
    
    http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/psys-gangnam-style-dance-takes-gma-17217294
    
    It also came up again on Sept. 19 because a group of lifeguards at a city pool did their own video of it on their break and got fired for it.
    
    http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/gangnam-style-video-spoof-california-lifeguards-fired-1726940 6
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Tunnen (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 4:49pm
    
    Re: Re: Big in Japan, or not
    I sought out the original after seeing a parody of it by The Key of Awesome. It was parodying the song and North Korea. When looking up the original, I did come across a bunch of other parodies that ranged from great to awful to terribly awful. These included a Western (Cowboy), lolcats, Klingon, My Little Pony, Star Wars, and the list goes on.
    
    I haven't seen a song spawn this amount of parodies in a long time.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- ray_iceman, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:41pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  ... or she has been living under a rock :D
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- ray_iceman, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:42pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  ... or she has been living under a rock :D
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 11:22pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  because japanese do not like Koreans
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- marko, 3 Oct 2012 @ 4:14am
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  Hi! I think no! read this!
  http://kr.celeb.yahoo.com/news/japanese-netizens-claim-gangnam-style-was-copied-off-000120962.html
  
  It talks abuot a "Japanese netizens" ...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Richard H., 11 Nov 2012 @ 10:27pm
  
  Re: Big in Japan, or not
  I'm from the states, currently studying in Japan.
  
  First, in Japan, the song is pronounce "Kounan Style" rather than "Gangnam Style" because of the way it is written in Kanji.
  
  Secondly, I can see why it won't be popular in Japan. There are many K-pop artists that are famous and popular here but most of them are very good looking (both men and women singers). None of them look like Psy. And if it is for the novelty, which is the reason why it exploded in the US and other Western countries, Japan has enough fat middle-aged man dancing around to funny songs already, like Papaya Suzuki...IT'S NOTHING NEW HERE!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:13pm

I had seen some image macros that didn't make a lot of sense without context, but it seemed dubious that it would be worth it to crawl out from under my rock to investigate further.

But now, seeing as this meme has a deeper meaning with broad cultural and cross-generational appeal, I'm sure it's not worth it.
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Dionaea (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:14pm

*crawls out from under rock to view video*

...

OMG! Even I could do that dance!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- ChurchHatesTucker (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:43pm
  
  Re:
  That sideways shuffle is harder than it looks.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:17pm

This article is incorrect to use this video/song as evidence of the advantage/disadvantage of copyright, lack of copyright or ignoring of copyright.
You see the problem is that no matter how popular or well known this music/performance/artwork is, I personally hadn't previously been aware of it and now that I am aware of it I find I do not care for it and therefore it has no relevance to me.

Try making your articles more inclusive if you wish to be taken seriously by disparate individuals of little or no relevance please.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:21pm
  
  Re:
  Try making your articles more inclusive if you wish to be taken seriously by disparate individuals of little or no relevance please.
  
  Why would he be interested in being taken seriously by individuals of little or no relevance?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - SomethingHasToGive (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:19pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Because we are Legion.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:42pm
  
  Re:
  How inclusive do you want it to be? Hundreds of millions of views around the world. You don't like it? That's fine. Music and videos are subjective, but there is a lesson here... People spread this and made it huge and he didn't stop it.
  
  And why is the article incorrect in using the song/video as an example?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - SomethingHasToGive (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:20pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Duh! Because... Piracy!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Rikuo (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:13pm
  
  Re:
  So...because you, personally, hadn't heard of this video before, therefore Mike can't use it as an example of the absurdity of copyright/permission culture?
  The world doesn't revolve around you, whoever you are.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Andrew F (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:21pm
    
    Re: Re:
    I think the AC forgot a tag.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Andrew F (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:23pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      I meant a sarcasm tag.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Rikuo (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:27pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        *Rereads*
        
        Yeah, you're right. Congrats, AC, I fell for it!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Yakko Warner (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:35pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        I have some surplus licenses for a SarcMark™ I could sell him....
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:43pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:
        and I'd buy them in a hurry, there's nothing more useful to sarcasm than a clear and definitive mark to alert people to the fact.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Jz (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:15pm
  
  Re: disparate individual of little or no relevance
  "the problem is that no matter how popular or well known this music/performance/artwork is, I personally hadn't previously been aware of it and now that I am aware of it I find I do not care for it and therefore it has no relevance to me."
  
  And you have no relevance to us.
  
  Culture is a group thing. The more people who share it the more value it has.
  
  While you might want uniqueness to define culture I think you'll find your disparity is only important to you.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:40pm
    
    Re: Re: disparate individual of little or no relevance
    "The more people who share it the more value it has"
    
    This is the concept of "value" in it's non-monetary sense?
    That's really going to sway business.
    
    It has taken off and is a phenomena, well brilliant, that and $23.60 will get you a birthday beverage at ---------.
    
    http://-----.-----.com/------food/most-expensive-----------drink-ever-23-60-plus-21420 0067.html *
    
    Hmm, I know I can't edit this after I post it and I don't want to use a trademark without permission, it might be fair use but I better redact parts ---- parts now redacted.
    
    *This is an even more useless link than one to a paywalled site
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:17pm

This got popular because he let people make it popular for him.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- jupiterkansas (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:21pm
  
  Re:
  and not just people, but "the people".
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- E. Zachary Knight (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:37pm
  
  Re:
  And the people made it popular by ignoring copyright.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:59pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Yep and that's the point of this story. He let the people make it popular. If it had been like copyright maximalists would have wanted he would not be even close to as popular.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - jupiterkansas (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 7:34am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      The maximalist would argue he could have made more money.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Travis, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:25pm

Uh... say what?
Ain't happening in Canada either, not as far as I know. This is the first I've heard of it.
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- nerdnamedchris, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:40pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  rather than point out the idiocy of your comment myself, i shall direct you to the above comment referencing 'Japan'
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:43pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  Just you haven't heard of does no mean no one in Canada knows about.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:23pm
    
    Re: Re: Uh... say what?
    I live in Canada and I saw it/him on SNL last weekend or two weekends ago after the SNL news segment. I watched it out of pure desperation.
    
    I hated it (although it made me laugh at just how stupid it was). But I'm an old fart and I hate most "modern" dance noise.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:07pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  What's a "Canada"?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Andrew F (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:23pm
    
    Re: Re: Uh... say what?
    It's a hat. America's hat.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Niall (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 5:39am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Uh... say what?
      At least America has taste in hats; shame about the Island shirts :)
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:49pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  Maybe in your social circle, but mine is obsessed with it.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- btr1701 (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:54pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  > Ain't happening in Canada either, not as
  > far as I know.
  
  What is Canada?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - btrussell (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 7:21pm
    
    Re: Re: Uh... say what?
    The biggest part of North America.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Gothenem (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 4:01pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  I live in Canada, and I saw the video about three weeks ago. Along with the "Deadpool Gangman Style" video.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Vancouver Eh, 2 Oct 2012 @ 6:08pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  Mentioned the song last Friday to group including a 50 year old Plumber, a 42 year old painter, a 24 year old electrician and an 82 year old homeowner. The only person who had no idea what we were talking about was the painter but he is stuck in a Nickleback phase.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- ldne, 2 Oct 2012 @ 9:20pm
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  It's had about 39 MILLION views on youtube and the guy's been on several programs performing, including the today show in Rockefeller plaza in NYC.
  Here's you a story about it with video on CBCnews:
  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/09/21/bc-video-vancouver-goes-ga ngnam-style.html?cmp=rss
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - velox (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 12:38am
    
    Re: Re: Uh... say what?
    Uh... You're low by an order of magnitude.
    The most viewed version on YouTube has had over 350 million views.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Voltage, 3 Oct 2012 @ 1:33am
  
  Re: Uh... say what?
  There's been several flash-mobs in both Edmonton and Toronto doing Gangnam style already so it's definatly happening here.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Josef Anvil (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:29pm

Why?
Why am I still expected to pay for digital copies of music by long dead artists? Oh yeah, piracy is starving those artists.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- mirradric, 2 Oct 2012 @ 8:52pm
  
  Re: Why?
  OMG, you are right... They are really not eating!!!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
gorehound (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:43pm

Klingon Gangnam Style was the best for me.We could use some Klingons to clean up on MAFIAA.
It is a good Day to DIE MAFIAA Scum !
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- ltlw0lf (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 4:35pm
  
  Re:
  Klingon Gangnam Style was the best for me.
  
  ltlw0lf likes this comment.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Niall (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 5:45am
  
  Re:
  Links please!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Gothenem (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 5:50am
    
    Re: Re:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CayMeza487M
    
    Klingon style
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 3 Oct 2012 @ 2:07pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      And turn on the subtitles. It's twice as funny with the subtitles.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 3 Oct 2012 @ 6:04am
    
    Re: Re:
    http://lmgtfy.com/?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DKlingon%2BGangnam%2BStyle%26oq%3DKl ingon%2BGangnam%2BStyle%26sugexp%3Dchrome%2Cmod%3D14%26sourceid%3Dchrome%26ie%3DUTF-8
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 3 Oct 2012 @ 10:49am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      FTFY...
      
      http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Klingon%20Gangnam%20Style
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Milton Freewater, 2 Oct 2012 @ 1:48pm

FWIW Call Me Maybe
"Tim Byron explores the cultural phenomenon and notes that this appears to be the first song that started as a meme that made it to number one on the charts"

Tim Byron is dead wrong. Call Me Maybe was first. It caught on as a video, then as a meme, before anyone cared about it as a single.

The catchy visuals in the CMM case was one professionally made lip-synch video that looked homemade (with Gomez, Tisdale, etc.), while the catchy visual in the GS case was one professionally made lip-synch video that looked like a talented amateur. In both cases, imitation videos sprung up all over, and THEN the song became popular.

In both cases, the line between infringement and a legitimate upload is irrelevant. The line does not exist. Most likely the rightsholder started the party in both cases, but in both cases the user cannot really tell. That's the problem and the point.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Memphis Slim.ru, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:03pm
  
  Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
  Wow, talk about missing the point...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike Masnick (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:32pm
  
  Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
  Tim Byron is dead wrong. Call Me Maybe was first.
  
  He addresses that in the post, and I think his argument is correct. Gangnam was much more of a meme first situation.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Tim Byron, 2 Oct 2012 @ 8:52pm
  
  Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
  Of course, I disagree that I'm dead wrong (read my article for more context), but I should also point out that 'Call Me Maybe' got to #1 in Australia (which is what I'm talking about) about three months before it did in the US, according to http://parklakespeakers.tumblr.com/post/26287117572/trajectory-of-an-international-megahit - I grant that it could have become a proper meme in those three months.
  
  Also, I'm not entirely sure if Psy actually has waived copyright to the song. I wrote that because a Guardian article claimed it was the case. But then I did see this today: http://www.mtviggy.com/blog-posts/psys-gangnam-style-caught-in-a-copyright-tug-of-war/ which at least shows that Psy's record company didn't get that memo...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - G Thompson (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 11:42pm
    
    Re: Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
    Would be interesting to know if Nine has paid any royalties to the song for the promotion of it they are doing on Big Brother
    
    *cringes that I have even seen that nine advert and tries to find mind bleach*
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Milton Freewater, 3 Oct 2012 @ 10:14am
    
    Re: Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
    "I should also point out that 'Call Me Maybe' got to #1 in Australia (which is what I'm talking about) about three months before it did in the US, according to http://parklakespeakers.tumblr.com/post/26287117572/trajectory-of-an-international-megahit - I grant that it could have become a proper meme in those three months."
    
    Hmm ... well according to good old Know Your Meme, the original viral video with Gomez, Tisdale and Bieber was uploaded February 18, 2012. This followed Bieber's tweet on 12/20/2011 which exposed his fans to the song.
    
    http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/call-me-maybe
    
    From the site:
    
    "On March 9th, the entertainment news blog Gawker published an article titled 'Have You Heard �Call Me Maybe,� the New Perfect Pop Song?', which described the celebrity lip dub as 'flawless.' On March 12th, AOL published an interview with Jepsen, who credited much of song�s success to Justin Bieber�s promotion."
    
    According to Wiki, "Call Me Maybe" debuted at number 39 in Australia on the chart issue dated March 18, 2012, and four weeks later, rose to number one.
    
    So the song was already a viral hit before it hit the Australian charts.
    
    More to the point, it's perhaps an even more interesting example of your theme, because the Call Me Maybe video was intended to look like infringement (fans lip-synching to something they don't have the rights to). Then when copycats took the bait, Jepsen's people winked. They WANTED Youtube infringement. PSY's copycats seem to be more of an unexpected, happy surprise for him.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Tim Byron, 3 Oct 2012 @ 8:44pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
      Milton Freewater: I'm well aware that Bieber helped promote 'Call Me Maybe' before it got to #1, but I don't think that song was a meme the same way Gangnam Style was at that point. Bieber doing that was astroturfing/social media marketing. It was a fair bit afterwards that you started seeing the kind of parodies, celebrities singing it, image macros etc on the Know Your Meme page. Whereas Gangnam Style was all about that stuff from the start.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Milton Freewater, 4 Oct 2012 @ 9:41am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: FWIW Call Me Maybe
        "I'm well aware that Bieber helped promote 'Call Me Maybe' before it got to #1 ... It was a fair bit afterwards that you started seeing the kind of parodies, celebrities singing it, image macros etc on the Know Your Meme page."
        
        Not to flog a dead horse, but the main part of the Bieber promotion (after one tweet) WAS a celebrity lip-synch parody, and the video broke the song. It inspired copycats immediately, which is why Gawker wrote about it and where I first heard the song.
        
        http://news.yahoo.com/call-maybe-viral-video-showdown-143800098.html
        
        "The very first "Call Me Maybe" parody was also "the most commercially important," says Ann Powers at NPR, since it both introduced Jepsen's song to American ears and launched the craze of lip-synched videos. Recorded in February, before the song took off in the U.S., it starred teen idols Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Ashley Tisdale."
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Nigel (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:09pm

Hot Chicks
The smoking hot Korean chicks do not hurt the cause either.

Just sayin. lol..

Nigel
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- Anonymous Coward, 3 Oct 2012 @ 10:57am
  
  Re: Hot Chicks
  Then may I recommend to you T-ara Yayaya.
  
  www.youtube.com/watch?v=PChUEyZTQuM
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:12pm

Bunch of Freetards I tell ya...Now get off my lawn. /s
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BentFranklin (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:19pm

This is a perfect example of why ignoring copyright just makes everything more fun. And that is why the AAholes must ultimately lose -- because they are on the wrong side of fun!
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GMacGuffin (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 2:20pm

I'm guessing that NBC still DMCA's away any attempt to post Psy's walk-on appearance on SNL...
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- fogbugzd (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:16pm
  
  Re:
  Naw. NBC's style would be to also block the original plus all parodies that occurred before it aired on SNL because once it is on NBC they own all of the pre-derivative work.
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Scott, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:30pm

You know if one of my accounts hadn't been terminated for copyright,I would've made a YouTube poop out of it. But it still nerve racking as far as with counter notices.
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Michael, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:34pm

I hadn't heard of this song before I read this article, but that's ok. Although this really isn't my style of music, I'm glad that Psy isn't using copyright as a beating stick, unlike seemingly 99.9% of other artists out there. Exposure isn't just important -- it's essential. Without the internet exposure, Psy and his music video would be relegated to South Korea.

As far as Japan's concerned, there's not much love loss between the tow countries, unfortunately. They need to turn over a new leaf.

Ironically, I've been watching some Korean TV dramas (affectionately called 'TV Novels') lately as I feel that they're better than what's on TV here. We used to have quality TV shows left, right and center and now ...nothing. All of those crime TV shows like NCIS and CSI, quite frankly, suck (Columbo is light-years better), as do all of those "reality" shows and other stuff.

I better stop myself before I go off on a tangent, but I hope you get my point.
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fuchikoma, 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:58pm

Open culture movements
If you want to see another example of what free allowance for copying can do, check out Touhou Project - the official material cannot be legally copied, but as long as it doesn't get too commercial, anyone is free to make and sell derivative works based on it. It's less visible here, but probably bigger, for much longer, than Gangnam Style.
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- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 6:33pm
  
  Re: Open culture movements
  Touhou's distribution method sucks though. Since it's self-published, the only way to get it legally is to be lucky enough to snag a CD from the very limited supply at certain events and shops. And the creator has made it clear he has no interest to license it outside Japan.
  
  As for the derivative works, no one in Japan really bothers to take those down if they keep a low profile, since it's far too entrenched a tradition at this point.
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william (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 3:58pm

I disagree.

One of the earlier communities that digged up Gangnam style is actually the North American Anime/Manga circle because in the song, "gangnam style" sounds like "Gundam style", referencing to the Gundam anime series.

And one of the VERY FIRST COPYRIGHT TAKE DOWN on Youtube is the fan altered (or MAD) video, "Gundam Style". I know it because I was one of the many people who got to see it, then found out it's been taken down by copyright. I still remember the take down happened around August 20th and I was very pissed.

So no, Psy is no saint on the copyright take down business.

Up to this day that full video is still offline. You can however see a short version of it by the same author at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMTfWsb-jQk
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- Scott, 2 Oct 2012 @ 4:41pm
  
  Re:
  He could've made a counter notice and it say it's fair use
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  - Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 4:53pm
    
    Re: Re:
    But that involves doing work, bitching about how it was unfair is easier...
    
    Part two of that of course would be when they filed the counter claim, only to still have it blocked... Such is the way of the new system.
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- Anonanon, 8 Oct 2012 @ 3:25am
  
  Re: Gundam Style
  Came here to say just this. It was the perfect parody and by the time I got to send it to my friends, it got taken down, literally less than half a day after I saw it. Not by Gundam's creators, but by PSY. I guess he really hates mecha anime.
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lucidrenegade (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 5:01pm

First time I heard it I thought he was saying "dirty condom style".
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- Anonymous Coward, 3 Oct 2012 @ 9:17am
  
  Re:
  I thought he was saying "Gundam style" and I got really excited. But no mechs were forthcoming :(
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Jim G., 2 Oct 2012 @ 5:12pm

I think Mike is misinterpreting his experience at the wedding he mentions. I am 53 years old and regularly copy the dance moves of the younger people around me. He would have counted me as somebody who was "well aware of the song and ready to do the dance" when all I was doing was going along with the crowd and trying to blend in.
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 6:11pm

Actually, Gangham style is almost exactly like another single way back when from a group called OMC (Otara Millionaires Club). Their one and only real hit "How Bizarre" was very popular in their homeland without a music video, but really took off worldwide with a video that caught attention and got major rotation.

Shockingly, even without the internet and some requirement for a "meme" this group took off.

Psy is the same thing really. He's well enough known in his home country, is an entertainer (rather than a musician, big difference) and away you go.

You don't have to meme or knock it off for it to be popular. If you watch it's track, it's more to do with getting good exposure, the right audience, the right time... before this went "meme" he already appearing on Ellen show (huge reach in the US to a non-traditional target market... at home Moms and Dads who likely use Facebook, I think it is). From there is went.
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- Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 7:31pm
  
  Re:
  The story appears to be taking effect and trying to make it fit your cause. Poor, really.
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Violated (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 8:40pm

Meme
I have seen the meme for 3 or 4 weeks now of that damned guy doing pelvic thrusting in the elevator.

It is clear to see why this catchy song has become popular when the music video is both classy and absurd. Worse yet people who look at it say to themselves that this is easy in that they can do this. This has led to a lot of replication and parodies where some of them are very good.

Psy cannot be unhappy about this situation when popularity sure does sell and he could well sell out any planned event you could name. The sweet surgery taste of Korean K-Pop can be quite refreshing to many bred on the taste of hard-core western songs. Psy seems quite content even to the point of grading the parodies.

Well this Gangnam Style has not peaked yet in its popularity and this dance craze is breaking out all over. I personally cannot be unhappy when it gets many hot women shaking their butts. I am only left wondering how anyone can wear a yellow suit when they look like a walking banana.
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Colin, 2 Oct 2012 @ 8:51pm

Not in Canada?
The video was just on CBC national news...
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Anonymous Coward, 2 Oct 2012 @ 10:43pm

LOL I love the Hitler version it's fucking hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nv6C25XYps
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G Thompson (profile), 2 Oct 2012 @ 11:55pm

For anyone who plays Battlefield (or any FPS really)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a89P6oHHREQ

Enjoy this version of Gangnam ;)
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Kunvay (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 2:43am

Copyrights Management Is Key
The success of the Gangnam video is in part due to how the artist managed copyright. Just like with any law, how, when and if you choose to enforce a right, is an art not a science.

In this case it's made smart business sense, but it may not for all artists. This artist made the choice not to invoke his copyrights, but he still has that choice to reel that in now or in the future. Copyright provides a choice, and we like the ability to have choice, and discretion in how we enforce one's rights.
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snidely (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 3:00am

GEMA Strikes Again
PSY might be big everywhere else, but he's a nobody in Germany since you can't watch any videos because GEMA hasn't licensed the rights. Rights that they probably don't even hold.
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Mr. Oizo, 3 Oct 2012 @ 3:58am

Sadly a gema warning that this video is not allowed in Zermany.
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Deirdre (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 5:48am

Well, I'm glad to know what all this is about. The artist was even on NPR one morning several weeks ago.
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jsf (profile), 3 Oct 2012 @ 7:36am

The internet makes this happen faster
This is similar to a number of niche non-english songs who's popularity spreads around the world. The internet just makes this happen much faster than it used to.

A classic "pre-internet" examples include Du Hast by Rammstein. Catchy tune that almost everyone under a certain age has heard multiple times.

Back in the day this type spread happened almost exclusively via dance clubs. Now it happens via YouTube and the critical mass is reached much more quickly. Due to the time compression it has a noticeable effect on digital sales.
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Sarah, 3 Oct 2012 @ 1:23pm

Did he actually "waive" copyright, or is he just allowing the derivative works? You can still monetize those works and not have them taken down.
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alex (profile), 4 Oct 2012 @ 4:23am

I just get:

"Unfortunately, this video is not available in Germany because it may contain music for which GEMA has not granted the respective music rights."
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sehlat (profile), 19 Oct 2012 @ 2:47pm

The Downfall goes Gangnam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIpPI-j8j_Q#!
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Parag, 9 Nov 2012 @ 10:10am

I received a copyright infringement notice of my smash up of Gangam Style
I've written a bit and posted pictures of the copyright notice I've received in relation to my smash up of Psy's Gangnam Style: http://pkmital.com/home/2012/11/09/youtubes-copyright-school/

They claim I have infringed on the "musical composition". So perhaps the dance itself is not copyrighted, but the music, arrangement, and composition certainly seem to be.
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Holiday Paintings Guy, 16 Jul 2013 @ 10:17am

Interesting, I'd never thought about it in that way! I suppose with the phenomenal popularity of the song that he's just kind of accepting that it's going to be reinterpreting it, doubt it's done him that much harm!
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Patent Solicitor, 20 Aug 2013 @ 9:48am

I think he made a good choice by not being picky with copyright, look what it's done for him! He's one of the few foreign artists to make it that big in the West, and making it big with a non English song is equally astounding.
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