Once Again, Millions Of Rickrolls Go Silent As The Original Rickroll Is 'Blocked' On YouTube

from the disappearing-culture dept

Fri, Jul 18th 2014 12:16pm — Mike Masnick

Apparently, like clockwork, the original RickRoll video on YouTube has to disappear from the site every two years. In 2010, we wrote about the video being taken down from YouTube due to a "terms of service violation" that was never explained. In 2012, the video was once again taken down, this time due to a copyright claim from "AVG Technologies." Both times the takedown didn't last too long, but it did happen. Here we are two years later, and guess what? The video is currently blocked in the US and other countries for no clear reason:

I'm assuming that someone will notice the attention this is getting and flip a switch to turn it back on, but it once again highlights the unfortunately transient nature of today's cultural milestones. This is a problem when we build a world of digital silos where third parties get to have control over what you can and cannot access. The ability to just wipe away a piece of culture that people always expect to be there is rather troubling.

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Filed Under: blocked, copyright, culture, geoblocking, rickroll
Companies: google, youtube

19 Comments

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silverscarcat (profile), 18 Jul 2014 @ 11:37am

I guess the song just got...
Rick Roll'd.
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- Ninja (profile), 18 Jul 2014 @ 11:43am
  
  Re: I guess the song just got...
  Guess some things never get old. This must be on purpose to keep the thing alive! /derp
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Josh in CharlotteNC (profile), 18 Jul 2014 @ 11:44am

So, Mr. Whatever, let me quote your comment on a previous thread:

"Whenever someone says culture is getting locked up, I have to giggle. You make it sound like nobody is allowed to talk about anything or share in common experiences. How wrong you are."

Culture was just locked up - again - by copyright. The shared common experience of rickrolling just got stomped on by copyright. You may not agree with the rickrolling concept, but it is unarguably a cultural phenomenon - and not just on the internet - Rick Astley even performed and rickrolled the Macy's Thanksgiving parade. It was just a link to a Youtube video that hardly anyone would have cared or known about if it wasn't for the shared experience that cannot occur at this point in time.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:21pm

Thats why I'm never going to give you up, never going to let you down, never going to turn a round and desert you.
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- Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:21pm
  
  Re:
  couldn't resist.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:25pm

Awww, I just got done building my Rickmote Controller so I could Rickroll my neighbors who watch Chromecast.

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/world-of-tech/devastating-chromecast-hack-will-let-you-r ickroll-your-neighbors-1257567
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jameshogg (profile), 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:38pm

Ah yes. Pissing into the swimming pool beside a pirate who is likewise pissing into the swimming pool, and demanding to the cleaner that they remove only the pirate's piss.

I am sure this tried and tested demand will work as it always does.
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- Trevor, 18 Jul 2014 @ 1:13pm
  
  Re:
  Easy:
  
  It can be assumed the Pirate pee is full of rum.
  
  Install two pool filters: Urine tests that search for different markers (Alcohol, sugars, proteins, etc.) If the pee is high in alcohol or sugar or protein, it can be assumed to be that of the Pirate, and filter it out. All other pee samples are cycled back into the pool.
  
  Given enough time, the pool will only contain pee consistent with the non Pirate. Therefore, only the pirate's piss was removed.
  
  /boom.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:42pm

This version with 84 million + views is still going strong:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
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- Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:52pm
  
  Re:
  Wait...did you just rickroll us with that link?
  
  Well played!
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- Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 1:49pm
  
  Re: 84 million +
  Did you just rick roll us?
  
  Hehehe, nice going ;)
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CK20XX (profile), 18 Jul 2014 @ 12:53pm

YES! THE MEME IS DEAD! EVEN IF IT'S ONLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE, IT'S TOTALLY WORTH--

...aw hell, this is still copyright as censorship. That means I have to oppose it and help fight to bring this stupid song back anyway. Man, the broken state of copyright sure makes for some strange bedfellows...
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- Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 1:38pm
  
  Re:
  The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone!
  
  Harder, better, faster, stronger. Power work is never over.
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- Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 8:28pm
  
  Re:
  >THE MEME IS DEAD!
  
  LONG LIVE THE MEME!
  
  ---------
  
  FWIW hasn't Astley and his record company arranged to sell ad rights so when people get Rick Rolled they get some YouTube money? If they haven't isn't it corporate malfeasance?
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 2:58pm

I felt a great disturbance in the Farce, as if millions of rickrolls suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 3:40pm

We Still have this

http://youtu.be/o1eHKf-dMwo
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 4:41pm

fugitive
This is called the Fugitive Saved Act.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Jul 2014 @ 6:13pm

Youtube is dead.
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Jul 2014 @ 12:29pm

Anyone remember the original hamster dance?

I remember dancing the night away... ;_;
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