Since Copyright Is So Handy For Censorship, It's Tempting To Use It To Censor Lots Of Content

from the unrelated-to-creativity dept

Matt Schruers, over at the Disruptive Competition Project blog has a great post discussing the harm of the increasing pressure to abuse intellectual property law to do a variety of things that it was clearly never intended for. He calls this intellectual property's "immigration" challenge, noting that these uses have "at best, a tenuous relationship to 'promot[ing]... Progress.'" Why "immigration"? Plaintiffs are jumping into the copyright realm because it's more appealing than laws in other areas, even if what they're seeking to do has nothing to do with copyright. One popular misuse of copyright law these days is as an alternative means of dealing with revenge porn. You can understand why people gravitate to this tool -- especially when there appear to be limited other tools for dealing with such sites. But can anyone explain what using copyright to takedown revenge porn has to do with promoting the creation of new works?

As Schruers notes, a big part of the issue is that copyright law comes with such a giant club in the form of statutory damages, which make it quite a powerful tool in censoring content:
What is happening is that plaintiffs are migrating into IP territory. Why? In a word: remedies. When testifying before Congress on this subject in July, I briefly noted that IP remedies are so attractive that they attract plaintiffs from other areas of the law. Rather than forum-shop, potential plaintiffs jurisprudence-shop. Claimants come to IP seeking redress for concerns that they cannot vindicate elsewhere. In the physical world, immigration is usually an indication that the destination is more attractive. In fact, a large amount of migration occurs in search of better conditions, or opportunities, and the anecdotal evidence suggests that this “remedy immigration” is no different.

When it comes to remedies, intellectual property is the land of opportunity. Robust injunctions, sweeping doctrines of secondary liability allowing recourse against parties other than the wrongdoer, statutory damages, and the availability of rapid DMCA takedowns all encourage plaintiffs to reframe various misdeeds (or perceived misdeeds) as infringement complaints. In a world with a general uniformity of remedies, there would be little reason for plaintiffs to seek out greener pastures, but when the remedies are unmistakably stronger in another area of law, plaintiffs have a natural incentive to reframe their claims to take advantage of them.
He goes on to discuss the use of copyright law against revenge porn and the recent "celeb leaks," noting that many of the photos in question aren't really good targets for copyright law, since many are taken by others (selfies are the exception, generally). He compares that to the Garcia case, in which an actress was able to take down the entire (controversial) "Innocence of Muslims" video based on a highly questionable copyright claim. He compares that to another case, Monge v. Maya Magazines, in which a celebrity sought to suppress images of her secret wedding (which she did not take).
Both Monge and Garcia represent efforts to use post hoc IP claims to suppress information from the public. While the circumstances may make for sympathetic plaintiffs, no one seriously thinks the litigation is about authorship. This is why it is so odd that the weapon of choice to suppress content is a statute aimed, ironically, at encouraging publication.
Again, one can (and many probably will) argue that they sympathize with the folks making use of copyright in this manner. Perhaps because they are troubled by the situations all of them find themselves in, and the lack of what they feel to be appropriate remedies. But it's quite clear that copyright in these cases is being used for things that have nothing to actually do with copyright. If we want our public policy to work properly, part of that has to involve making sure that we don't twist and turn laws to cover things they should not.

A big part of the issue, frankly, goes beyond just the remedies aspect that Schruers highlights. It has to do with the fact that copyright has long been viewed as a First Amendment work-around. The conflict between copyright and the First Amendment is undeniable -- in fact, whole books have been written about it. Historically, the courts have brushed off these concerns however, arguing that things like "fair use" create a "safety valve." But what's really happening here is that people are recognizing a tool that has been effectively blessed as a "legal" way to get around the First Amendment and use the law to censor content they wish to suppress. People can argue over whether or not it's appropriate to suppress that material, but everyone should at least be willing to admit that copyright should be the wrong tool for this sort of thing no matter what.
Hide this

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: celebrity nudes, censorship, copyright, first amendment, immigration, promote the progress, remedies, revenge porn, statutory damages


Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread


  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
    icon
    antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 8:19am

    But can anyone explain what using copyright to takedown revenge porn has to do with promoting the creation of new works?

    The takedown notices are sent *after* the work has been created, so obviously it's not about incentivizing the creation of a new work. Your question makes no sense. It's like asking why anyone would sue for infringement of a work that's already in existence. Copyright isn't only about incentivizing new works, full stop. It's also about the control a copyright owner has in a work once it's been created. One would think you'd understand this simple point.

    But it's quite clear that copyright in these cases is being used for things that have nothing to actually do with copyright. If we want our public policy to work properly, part of that has to involve making sure that we don't twist and turn laws to cover things they should not.

    If the copyright owner has exclusive rights to distribution and reproduction, then enforcing those rights has everything "to actually do with copyright." If someone claims rights they don't have, then I agree with you. But you could say that about anyone claiming any right they don't actually have.

    But what's really happening here is that people are recognizing a tool that has been effectively blessed as a "legal" way to get around the First Amendment and use the law to censor content they wish to suppress. People can argue over whether or not it's appropriate to suppress that material, but everyone should at least be willing to admit that copyright should be the wrong tool for this sort of thing no matter what.

    So you think everyone should agree with you? I don't. If the content being suppressed is copyrighted, and the use in question is not protected by the First Amendment, then I see nothing wrong with using copyright to control the unwanted and infringing use of the content in question. Those exclusive rights do just that--they give the copyright owner the right to exclude others from making use the work.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 9:21am

      Re:

      Reading comprehension fail!

      You have to actually own the copyright to exercise it. If you don't, then it isn't a copyright issue.

      But then, your paymasters would not pay you if you didn't toe the copyright maximalists line of perverted interpretation. Go get your check.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        icon
        antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 11:58am

        Re: Re:

        Reading comprehension fail!

        You have to actually own the copyright to exercise it. If you don't, then it isn't a copyright issue.

        But then, your paymasters would not pay you if you didn't toe the copyright maximalists line of perverted interpretation. Go get your check.


        I don't have "paymasters" who pay me to post on TD. Give me a break. I was referring to Mike's question about revenge porn. If the person sending the takedown notice owns the copyright, then that's an owner exercising their exclusive rights in a proper way, IMO. If they don't own the rights, then it's abuse and I agree with Mike.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:33pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Color me unimpressed and unconvinced.

          Your history of posts tell the story, and since you agree with Mike, just why do you keep challenging him on stuff you agree with?

          See here for details.

          https://www.techdirt.com/user/antidirt

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
            icon
            antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:06pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Color me unimpressed and unconvinced.

            Your history of posts tell the story, and since you agree with Mike, just why do you keep challenging him on stuff you agree with?


            I usually don't agree with Mike. I do challenge him frequently on the substance of his posts. But, sadly, Mike can't/won't defend what he writes, and he won't ever take an explicit position on IP. Hence my username. I'm "unimpressed and unconvinced" with Mike quite often.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:17pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "and he won't ever take an explicit position on IP"

              And...another reading comprehension fail.

              Mike provides his positions, often, and these have been linked for you, and yet...

              Now we know you lack integrity as well...or you are intellectually dishonest with yourself and others.

              There are no therapists here, seek yours elsewhere.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                icon
                antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:23pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                Mike provides his positions, often, and these have been linked for you, and yet...

                Does Mike think there should be any exclusive rights for authors or inventors? And, more importantly, why? Let's see the answer to that.

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:31pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  You are just an attention whore who is crying, waa waa waa, because you cannot get the attention you crave. I don't think your going to get it either.

                  Seek help.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

            • identicon
              RD, 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:11pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              "I usually don't agree with Mike. I do challenge him frequently on the substance of his posts. But, sadly, Mike can't/won't defend what he writes, and he won't ever take an explicit position on IP. Hence my username. I'm "unimpressed and unconvinced" with Mike quite often."

              Oh...I get it...you're THAT troll. Ok then, auto-report from here on out. Makes my life easier anyway.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                icon
                antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:19pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                Oh...I get it...you're THAT troll. Ok then, auto-report from here on out. Makes my life easier anyway.

                Thanks for admitting you'd rather abuse the "report" button than engage in a substantive discussion. Mike must be so proud!

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 5:39pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  Your example of "substantive discussion" is held in a barnyard. Sorry, but you don't get to decide definitions. You're grossly unqualified.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                    icon
                    antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 6:24pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                    Your example of "substantive discussion" is held in a barnyard. Sorry, but you don't get to decide definitions. You're grossly unqualified.

                    And yet I'm here having a nice substantive discussion with some of the other commentators. You should join us!

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • icon
                      techflaws (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 10:18pm

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                      Thanks, but no thanks.

                      *clicks report*

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2014 @ 12:22am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                      I recount, on multiple occasions, of you and your little copyright fuckbuddies insisting that pirates must have all their Internet, culture and privacy privileges revoked, regardless of how much they actually spend on culture.

                      I find it funny how you, after spending months of posting nothing but insults and onomatopoeia, are now (again) trying to worm back in as though nothing happened.

                      You abused your privileges, and now you're getting what you deserve.

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                        icon
                        antidirt (profile), 16 Sep 2014 @ 7:04am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                        You abused your privileges, and now you're getting what you deserve.

                        And yet I'm here posting and engaging others substantively. Maybe one day you'll do the same.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                        • identicon
                          Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2014 @ 8:40am

                          Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                          Just like how you promised to stay off the site, then posted while logged out, then denied trying to hide yourself when posting?

                          Ha, ha. You actually think people are fooled into thinking you're trustworthy.

                          link to this | view in chronology ]

                        • identicon
                          Anonymous Coward, 17 Sep 2014 @ 6:11pm

                          Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                          I've tried that before. All I got were animal noises.

                          If you think I'm going to agree to touch a pile of shit because it told me it was being a little less shitty, you're delusional.

                          link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Just Another Anonymous Troll, 15 Sep 2014 @ 9:40am

      Re:

      Pro tip: If your name is antidirt and your picture is a crossed-out logo of the site you're shilling on, it's pretty obvious you're a shill.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Roger Strong (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 11:47am

        Re: Re:

        "antidirt"... A shill for Big Laundry Detergent?

        A victorious veteran of the War on Ring Around the Collar, all but forgotten during the War on Drugs and the War on Terror, hoping to regain relevance in the War on IP Abuse....

        "This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it."
        - The Lemon-Fresh Borax for trolls!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        icon
        antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:02pm

        Re: Re:

        Pro tip: If your name is antidirt and your picture is a crossed-out logo of the site you're shilling on, it's pretty obvious you're a shill.

        I'm an individual who posts what he honestly believes. But thanks for the non-substantive non-reply.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          CK20XX (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:26pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          It's pretty hard to take you seriously with such a sensationalist mantel though. Do you want to be an effective commenter, or do you just want to shout at the hills all day? Do you want to actually change peoples' minds and improve things or do you just want to hear yourself talk?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
            icon
            antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:04pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            It's pretty hard to take you seriously with such a sensationalist mantel though. Do you want to be an effective commenter, or do you just want to shout at the hills all day? Do you want to actually change peoples' minds and improve things or do you just want to hear yourself talk?

            I expect my comments to be judged substantively and on the merits. I'm sure some people can't get past the avatar. I'm probably not interested in what those people have to say anyway.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              techflaws (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 10:21pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              I expect my comments to be judged substantively and on the merits.

              Which they were and thus were being reported.

              If you had better merits than your asinine repeated falsehoods of Mike not making his position on copyright clear, it might look differently. OTOH, you seem to be too much of an asshat all around that most likely few would bother. Tough luck.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 10:23am

      Re:

      By placing the burden of proof on the accused which is about as unconstitutional as you can get.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 10:48am

        Re: Re:

        Yep, but this is common human nature. It is even more common than natural racism. You will not find a culture in the world that has been able to successfully rid itself of this.

        Even when America was first founded and this very ideal brought forward people still tended to believe in this shit.

        Innocent until proven guilty is very hard for people to understand... very hard.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
        icon
        antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:00pm

        Re: Re:

        By placing the burden of proof on the accused which is about as unconstitutional as you can get.

        What burden of proof? It's a takedown notice, not a lawsuit. I don't see how it's unconstitutional. Could you explain?

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:30pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          I hereby issue you with a notice that your posting on this site is not allowed, so do not post again.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
            icon
            antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:07pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            I hereby issue you with a notice that your posting on this site is not allowed, so do not post again.

            Seems legit. Oh, wait...

            link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          John Fenderson (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:42pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          "It's a takedown notice, not a lawsuit."

          Since it's an action authorized, enabled, and enforced by the US government, it's effectively the US government acting through a proxy. Therefore constitutional protections should apply.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
            icon
            antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:08pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Since it's an action authorized, enabled, and enforced by the US government, it's effectively the US government acting through a proxy. Therefore constitutional protections should apply.

            I'm still waiting to hear which part of the Constitution it supposedly violates.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              John Fenderson (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:27pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              In my opinion, it violates the right of due process. It is also used as a tool to violate the first amendment, although that's more about how it's used than about the law specifically.

              It look to me like the law was designed the way it was with the specific intention of bypassing constitutional protections.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

              • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                icon
                antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:16pm

                Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                In my opinion, it violates the right of due process. It is also used as a tool to violate the first amendment, although that's more about how it's used than about the law specifically.

                It look to me like the law was designed the way it was with the specific intention of bypassing constitutional protections.


                Let's say I upload a video to YouTube, and Sony issues a takedown notice which YouTube acts on. Which party is the government actor, Sony or YouTube? Or is it both?

                link to this | view in chronology ]

                • icon
                  John Fenderson (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:19pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  YouTube

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                    icon
                    antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 6:23pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                    YouTube

                    Without the DMCA, YouTube would take the video down because, now with notice and thus knowledge of the infringement, it would face contributory liability (knowledge + material contribution). In that case, I don't think anyone would contend that YouTube is a government actor. Complying with the law to avoid liability doesn't make them one.

                    But I have trouble seeing how the DMCA changes this. YouTube would still take the video down lest it be liable for contributory infringement. The DMCA doesn't change things. All it says is that if YouTube takes the video down, it's liability will be limited. But that same limitation on its liability exists without the DMCA.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                • identicon
                  RD, 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:24pm

                  Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                  "Let's say I upload a video to YouTube, and Sony issues a takedown notice which YouTube acts on. Which party is the government actor, Sony or YouTube? Or is it both?"

                  Dumbass. They are both acting within the scope of the law set BY THE GOVERNMENT. The authority to be able to issue that takedown is given BY THE GOVERNMENT. Just because someone else *uses* a law doesn't mean its not a constitutional or governmental issue. Or, do you really think that this is ONLY the case when its JUST the government, directly, doing the prosecuting? If so, please go back to law school, or google, or anywhere and get educated on the basics of applicability of law and rights enumerated in the constitution.

                  link to this | view in chronology ]

                  • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
                    icon
                    antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 6:00pm

                    Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                    Dumbass. They are both acting within the scope of the law set BY THE GOVERNMENT. The authority to be able to issue that takedown is given BY THE GOVERNMENT. Just because someone else *uses* a law doesn't mean its not a constitutional or governmental issue. Or, do you really think that this is ONLY the case when its JUST the government, directly, doing the prosecuting? If so, please go back to law school, or google, or anywhere and get educated on the basics of applicability of law and rights enumerated in the constitution.

                    Why am I not surprised this was marked "insightful." Sigh. Not everyone who acts "within the scope of the law" is a government actor. Give me a break. When you file your taxes, are you a government actor? Of course not. When I drive on the right side of the road and under a certain velocity, am I government actor? Nope.

                    People could and did send requests to service providers to have materials taken down before the DMCA was passed, and service providers could and did take down materials upon request. The DMCA didn't create some new-found authority to do these things. And nor does the DMCA mandate that rightholders or service providers must do these things. All it says is that, if a rightholder sends a notice meeting certain conditions, and if the service provider takes the complained-of material down, then the service provider's potential liability is limited.

                    The DMCA provides a potential benefit to the service provider if it chooses to take a particular action. That's it. I don't see how that makes the service provider a government actor. The tax code gives me a tax benefit if I have another kid. That doesn't mean I'm a government actor when I have another kid. Have you actually done any research whatsoever on the state actor doctrine? I don't get the sense that you have.

                    link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      RD, 15 Sep 2014 @ 8:50pm

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                      [a whole bunch of fail clipped]

                      Again, go google how laws and the courts work. You are conflating 2 or 3 differing actors and benficiaries of laws and saying they are all equivalent. They arent. You, when you pay your taxes, are not a "government actor" in the same sense as someone who is wronged and uses the law for redress. You are throwing everyone who has any interaction with the government from any side together in a giant straw-man and then counter-arguing your own incorrect point as if *we* said any such thing.

                      You are wrong. Learn how this stuff works, then come back and we can have an actual discussion about the merits and limits of copyright law with regard to its possible suppression of speech.

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                      • icon
                        antidirt (profile), 16 Sep 2014 @ 7:03am

                        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                        Again, go google how laws and the courts work. You are conflating 2 or 3 differing actors and benficiaries of laws and saying they are all equivalent. They arent. You, when you pay your taxes, are not a "government actor" in the same sense as someone who is wronged and uses the law for redress. You are throwing everyone who has any interaction with the government from any side together in a giant straw-man and then counter-arguing your own incorrect point as if *we* said any such thing.

                        You are wrong. Learn how this stuff works, then come back and we can have an actual discussion about the merits and limits of copyright law with regard to its possible suppression of speech.


                        Since you're so learned in the law, can you walk me through the state actor doctrine analysis? Thanks.

                        link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • icon
                      techflaws (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 10:26pm

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                      Why am I not surprised this was marked "insightful." Sigh.

                      Because as the other posted already said, you're too dumb to get how wrong you are. D'uh.

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

                    • identicon
                      Anonymous Coward, 16 Sep 2014 @ 12:25am

                      Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

                      That would be because you spent months mimicking a chicken and thought that was the most thoughtful, intelligence response.

                      Don't feel too bad; you and your submissive partner Whatever can fire up TOR, make 50 new IP addresses and upvote yourselves into oblivion.

                      Oh, but wait - using TOR would mean you had something to hide, because you're a filthy pirate. That's what you believe!

                      link to this | view in chronology ]

        • icon
          Gwiz (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:50pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          What burden of proof? It's a takedown notice, not a lawsuit. I don't see how it's unconstitutional. Could you explain?

          You, Karl and I had a lengthy discussion about this awhile ago and I know that you believe (incorrectly IMO) that DMCA takedowns cannot violate the Constitution because they are not from a government actor. Karl and I disagreed because regardless of who actually sends the notice it's still backed by the might of the Federal government.

          In this case we are talking about something completely different though, we are talking about takedowns issued by those who do not hold the copyright in question. Since neither party is actually the copyright holder it would never be established that a copyright violation occurred and the speech would remain protected by the First Amendment wouldn't it?

          It seems to me that in this type of situation it's most certainly a First Amendment violation by using the power of the government to quash protected speech.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
            icon
            antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:14pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            You, Karl and I had a lengthy discussion about this awhile ago and I know that you believe (incorrectly IMO) that DMCA takedowns cannot violate the Constitution because they are not from a government actor. Karl and I disagreed because regardless of who actually sends the notice it's still backed by the might of the Federal government.

            In this case we are talking about something completely different though, we are talking about takedowns issued by those who do not hold the copyright in question. Since neither party is actually the copyright holder it would never be established that a copyright violation occurred and the speech would remain protected by the First Amendment wouldn't it?

            It seems to me that in this type of situation it's most certainly a First Amendment violation by using the power of the government to quash protected speech.


            I don't agree that the sender of a takedown notice is a government actor. No court has ever addressed the issue, and I assume it's because the argument is so bad that no one's ever made it--not even the EFF, who takes a broad view of such things. But let's assume that the sender of a legitimate takedown notice is a government actor. I'm not sure that would also make the illegitimate sender of a takedown notice a government actor, since then, they would only be purporting to be acting under color of law--they wouldn't actually be doing so. I'd have to give that one some more thought, though.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              Gwiz (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:24pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              I'm not sure that would also make the illegitimate sender of a takedown notice a government actor, since then, they would only be purporting to be acting under color of law--they wouldn't actually be doing so.

              Perhaps this is why the penalty of perjury was included in the language for the laws regarding DMCA takedowns. It could be that Congress realized that if the sender wasn't the copyright holder, then DMCA notices could easily run afoul of the First Amendment since the speech would remain protected. I'm going to have to do some research on this myself.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            Whatever (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 2:53pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            In this case we are talking about something completely different though, we are talking about takedowns issued by those who do not hold the copyright in question. Since neither party is actually the copyright holder it would never be established that a copyright violation occurred and the speech would remain protected by the First Amendment wouldn't it?

            Home made nudie shots and pr0n videos fall into an interesting legal issue, which does in fact end up in the copyright arena, that of the rules related to USC 18 sections 2256 and 2257, notably that of proving that a model appearing is of legal age. It's a requirement for the work to be published. One of the recent "leaked" celebrity iphone things including images purported created when the girl was underage. That is pretty ugly.

            It doesn't add up to a copyright claim however, which is still a different issue.

            The question of "who holds the copyright" in these cases is an interesting one. If they came off of the plaintiff's phone or home video camera, it's one indication that they may have some rights. Now, admittedly, there is the whole issue of who actually shot the image. That generally can be answered in a type of "work for hire" or "helping out", where as the person shooting is doing so at the request of the model, not the other way around. The lack of the model release / 2257 documents would suggest this to be true, and thus would make the model also generally the copyright holder. They may not have pushed the button - or may have with a timer, we don't don't know.

            What most people don't know is that all of those "stolen" celebrity sex tapes that show up (mostly being sold by Vivid from LA) are not at all stolen. Vivid can't sell them without model releases, so each one of those "offended" celebs are in fact making bank off of sales and usage rights from those videos.

            Now, if someone issuing a takedown is not the copyright holder and it can be shown that they knew this up front, then they are the perfect test case for the false reporting parts of the DMCA laws. That nobody is arguing it too hard suggests that the threshold for proof is too high, or that it is felt that it would be hard to show ban intentions - they may feel they have a valid copyright claim ("I never signed the model release, so he can't claim copyright on my image"), which would make proving the false claim status hard.

            I also believe that when it comes to things like stolen / hacked content such as the celeb nudes, we see the problems inherent in the notice / counter notice / take down system, which puts the offender (the one posting images that they know they have no rights to) into a special "innocent" status which they do not deserve. Copyright and DMCA in this case allow them to walk away without any legal implications, as they can just say "oops" and have little or no direct responsibility. Everyone is just an "innocent host" no matter their intent.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              nasch (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 4:40pm

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:


              Home made nudie shots and pr0n videos fall into an interesting legal issue, which does in fact end up in the copyright arena, that of the rules related to USC 18 sections 2256 and 2257, notably that of proving that a model appearing is of legal age.


              That's not a copyright issue, section 18 is the criminal code, yes? Chapter 110 is abuse of minors or some such. Copyright is in USC 17 if I'm not mistaken.


              I also believe that when it comes to things like stolen / hacked content such as the celeb nudes, we see the problems inherent in the notice / counter notice / take down system, which puts the offender (the one posting images that they know they have no rights to) into a special "innocent" status which they do not deserve.


              It does no such thing. If someone wants to sue the uploader, they're still perfectly free to do so. The DMCA protects 3rd parties from liability for actions of other people. But you already knew that.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 9:40am

    dont know why you said 'it's tempting to use as a censorship tool', it's used all the time to do that, especially if it's something the USA wants censored, like on behalf of Hollywood and the entertainment industries! even more so as the USA seems to be doing as much as possible to get it's laws to be used in the rest of the world and so many other governments are selling out their peoples to comply! talk about indoctrinated!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      nasch (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 11:01am

      Re:

      dont know why you said 'it's tempting to use as a censorship tool', it's used all the time to do that, especially if it's something the USA wants censored, like on behalf of Hollywood and the entertainment industries!

      That's why he said that... it's tempting, and lots of people don't resist the temptation.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 9:41am

    It may actually make sense

    But can anyone explain what using copyright to takedown revenge porn has to do with promoting the creation of new works?


    Actually, yes.

    People may reconsider taking such pictures if they think there is a possibility that they will be made public. People are more likely to create such pornographic works if they can be assured that it can NOT be placed on revenge porn sites, or otherwise publicly reproduced.

    On the other hand, the copyright clause does specify "useful Arts". One could argue that pornographic pictures are not useful, maybe?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      John Fenderson (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 10:01am

      Re: It may actually make sense

      "useful arts" is actually an old-timey way of saying "applied technology". It has nothing to do with actual art.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      nasch (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 11:02am

      Re: It may actually make sense

      People may reconsider taking such pictures if they think there is a possibility that they will be made public.

      Copyright is about getting works into public, it's not there to encourage people to create works and then keep them private.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
      icon
      antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 12:05pm

      Re: It may actually make sense

      People may reconsider taking such pictures if they think there is a possibility that they will be made public. People are more likely to create such pornographic works if they can be assured that it can NOT be placed on revenge porn sites, or otherwise publicly reproduced.

      I was reading Mike's question as being about how does it incentivize the copyright owner to create a work that already exists--and that obviously makes no sense. Your read is probably better, and I agree that by letting people know they can control the uses of their photographs, this would incentivize them to take photographs. But that whole line of thinking turns on the notion that copyright is *only* about incentives to produce. I don't think that's true, hence automatic copyright that subsists whether the author is incentivized by the rights or not.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Gwiz (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:14pm

        Re: Re: It may actually make sense

        But that whole line of thinking turns on the notion that copyright is *only* about incentives to produce.

        That what the Framers originally thought when they included in the Constitution, isn't it? Just because it's gotten twisted into something else along the way doesn't make it correct.


        I don't think that's true, hence automatic copyright that subsists whether the author is incentivized by the rights or not.

        And you have just put forth a compelling argument as to why copyright should go back to opt-in. If automatic copyright isn't an incentive for the creation of new works, then it should be removed from copyright law to comply with the Copyright Clause.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • This comment has been flagged by the community. Click here to show it
          icon
          antidirt (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 6:10pm

          Re: Re: Re: It may actually make sense

          That what the Framers originally thought when they included in the Constitution, isn't it? Just because it's gotten twisted into something else along the way doesn't make it correct.

          And you have just put forth a compelling argument as to why copyright should go back to opt-in. If automatic copyright isn't an incentive for the creation of new works, then it should be removed from copyright law to comply with the Copyright Clause.


          I think the Framers held a plurality of views, and I don't read the Copyright Clause as mandating that there can only be copyright to the extent that it incentivizes new works but no further. Congress gets to decide what promotes the progress, and their hands aren't tied by some narrow reading of the Clause as copyright opponents would like them to be.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Mr. Tldr Bu'Shood, 17 Sep 2014 @ 2:54am

            Re: Re: Re: Re: It may actually make sense

            Congress gets a say, yes, but really it is humanity as a whole whom decides what promotes the progress, or more accurately what is and isn't progress.

            I do agree about plurality. Beyond promoting progress and the useful arts, copyright was always meant to be a two way street between corporate and public interests as well. Business interests get something beneficial out of it (protection for a limited time) and in return so does the general public (via the pubic domain).

            Sadly, we keep seeing said business interests attempting (and usually succeeding) to shift this mutually beneficial 'contract' so that it mostly favors their party. Part of what makes this particularly sad is how copyright maximalists are unable to see how the public domain can actually help them in the long run, and in a number of different ways. The things Disney has done and profited greatly from is only a small part of it as it's reach goes well beyond basic entertainment.

            Proof of this is how certain industries, often (but not limited to) those surrounding entertainment, always have to be dragged kicking and screaming from the past into the present. It is a matter of historical fact that in pretty much every single case, they have profited greatly by this forced change. I feel it's their fear of the future and thus the unknown, especially as it relates to economics, that is to blame.

            This time around, however, we're seeing stronger than usual effects from too much wealth, greed, ego, and undue influence in government via means that could (and should) be considered bribery. It's allowed the industry to root themselves more firmly in the past than ever before. In a truly free market, where everyone played fair and corruption wasn't so rampant, they would have already changed their strategies by now from having been forced into finding new ways to monetize their goods.

            I firmly believe there is a path where the public and industry can both continue to profit the way they're supposed to, provided copyright laws remain fair and serve both like they're also supposed to. Part of what Techdirt is about is promoting the search for such paths and it's going to take someone much smarter than you or I to find it. I wonder if they'll win the Nobel Prize for economics? They should.

            Ok, so maybe I'm an idealist and there is no ideal solution in which everyone involved would benefit and live happily ever after, but does that really mean we have to keep having a go at each other as we have been for the past decade or so? All it's done is generate a ton of animosity on both sides, so much so that the solution could come along and end up being ignored/missed entirely given just how many people there are focusing on entirely the wrong thing. Sigh, human nature.

            What I do know for absolute certain is that so called "pirates" (i.e. not for profit file sharers) aren't simply cheapskates who want it all for free. Most of us are aware of what it takes for our favorite forms of entertainment to be made (fantasy, sci-fi and post-apocalyptic genres in my case - just say no to reality shows lol) and we really do want to support those whom make these things a reality for us. Even the most cash strapped among us do spend what little they're able to. We spend more on entertainment than the average consumer and this shouldn't even be in contention by now as it is a well proven fact (Google it).

            We are not the enemy, so please stop trying so hard to turn us into one! I also don't want to hear about how you can't compete with free because it's already been done loads of times. My personal favorite was AllOfMP3. If you hit the right price and deliver the right content in just the right way and in a timely fashion, people will buy it up like crazy. People prefer to buy legal alternatives because it means not having to continually stress out over the legality of it all. Get all those things wrong, however, and folks will prefer to take the risk.

            For sharers, it all boils down to risk versus reward pretty much. The copyright cartel has focused almost entirely on making the risk so high that nobody will file share ever again. The problem with this is that it doesn't work as has been proven many times over. Even the death penalty won't stop anyone. Get all those things I mentioned before just right though (price, quality, timely, etc), and I guarantee you'll not only make a fortune, but end 99.9% of piracy almost over night. If only ego, wealth, greed and undue influence in government weren't all feeding our nature and desire to fight and the copyright maximalists could see such simple, basic reasoning for the truth it bears... sigh.

            link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 9:50am

    If we want our public policy to work properly, part of that has to involve making sure that we don't twist and turn laws to cover things they should not.


    Exactly right. If we want revenge porn to be illegal, we should make revenge porn illegal.

    If we improperly rely on copyright in these situations, then the person who does not possess copyright on the image (because someone else took it, perhaps) will have no recourse.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    jameshogg (profile), 15 Sep 2014 @ 1:23pm

    As far as I can tell, one big thing that gets in the way of battles against revenge porn is copyright.

    If somebody else is doing the filming, i.e. the ex-boyfriend jerk, according to copyright he has full control over that porn. So you have to say copyright must be made irrelevant when passing laws to take the revenge porn down in order to look the least bit sane.

    And if the victim had the copyright that also would likewise be irrelevant.

    It doesn't matter either way. And it is ridiculous of copyright believers to say that copyright should be involved at ALL, along the lines of "we wouldn't be able to do the right thing here if it wasn't for copyright". Total babble. As well as all the other irrelevant things they try to tie in the strictly economic theory of copyright such as plagiarism, trademarks, quality assurance, branding, defamation, libel and - putting it bluntly - blasphemy via remixes.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 15 Sep 2014 @ 5:49pm

      Re:

      Consider that other countries usually have to wait months to years for movies - or never get them at all - and are then told that because they didn't buy the movie when it was unavailable, it will never be made available in their country, because copyright.

      This is the sort boneheaded move that fanboys like Whatever regularly celebrate.

      link to this | view in chronology ]


Follow Techdirt
Essential Reading
Techdirt Deals
Report this ad  |  Hide Techdirt ads
Techdirt Insider Discord

The latest chatter on the Techdirt Insider Discord channel...

Loading...
Recent Stories

This site, like most other sites on the web, uses cookies. For more information, see our privacy policy. Got it
Close

Email This

This feature is only available to registered users. Register or sign in to use it.