Good marketers know precisely how to use the Streisand effect
One of the few areas where Techdirt has its head in the sand is thinking that the Streisand effect always works against the takedown requester. Haven't you noticed that marketers and PR folks now know exactly how to use the Streisand effect as a publicity tool? This story is a perfect example. The sentence "Going any further would really get the tongues wagging, which was the exact thing the league was hoping to prevent" should much more accurately say "Going any further would really get the tongues wagging, which was the exact thing the league was hoping to accomplish." As you wrote, MLB is very internet-savvy; this just proves it again.
It's ironic to see Spike Lee challenged by a ridiculous trademark controversy, considering that he sued Spike TV when they started up because he apparently thinks he is the only Spike in the entertainment industry.
A quick update on my unauthorized practice of law report to The State Bar of California -- today I received this postcard:
We have received your complaint against a non-California attorney and have assigned it the number shown below. We will contact you when our evaluation of your matter is complete. Thank you for your patience. OFFICE OF CHIEF TRIAL COUNSEL/INTAKE Inquiry # 14-27528
The State Bar of California Office of the Chief Trial Counsel, Intake Unit 845 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515 Attn: UPL Project
To the State Bar of California UPL Project:
This message is to alert you about the possible unlawful practice of law by an unlicensed individual in California.
Marta Thoma Hall (whose business address is Velodyne Corporate Headquarters, 345 Digital Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037) held herself out to be an attorney representing Velodyne Inc., operated a phone "legal prosecution" agency, provided legal counsel to Velodyne Inc., and delivered legal advice -- all without being a member of the California Bar or the bar of any other jurisdiction.
Hall's actions are encapsulated in email messages she sent to at least three vendors on Amazon.com and Ebay.com: "20YearsUSAF" at Amazon.com and Ebay.com; "CCYL" on Amazon.com; and "Barbara's Bag of Holding" on Amazon.com. These actions are documented on Amazon.com at [URL for Amazon Seller Central discussion appears here]
Hall's email messages purpurted to be a notice of "legal prosecution" from an apprently fictitious law firm representing Velodyne, and in that fictitious role advises and counsels recipients misleadingly on their legal rights and responsibilities. The email message sent by Hall to "20YearsUSAF" reads:
[text of first letter from Hall to 20YearsUSAF appears here]
The crime here, I believe, is unauthorized practice of law, which in California I think is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison. With language in the Sock and Bruster letter like "our engagement representing Velodyne", "notice of legal prosecution", and "Legal Prosecution ... Agency" -- as well as statements purporting to interpret the law -- I'd wager there's a pretty clear case to be made.
I've seen that a few crowdfunded movies have offered opportunities for contributors to have their music on the soundtrack. I wonder if this will impact that kind of offer in the future.
Streisand wasn't trying to remove bad publicity -- just neutral publicity. It seems unfair to tie her with creeps like this who are trying to cover up their bad behavior.
To me, this looks like another deliberate use of Streisanding to get publicity for everyone involved. So Francesa is an opinionated jerk who takes a ridiculous stand and then hammers away at anyone who disagrees: That's exactly what sports jocks are supposed to do -- haven't you ever listened to sports radio? This story helps Francesa's professional reputation, and it's no skin off his nose if the parodists get publicity too; actually it's even better for him if they do. If I were his PR advisor, I would have suggested he handle this exactly the way he's doing.
Is it Senator Wyden who misspelled "misled" in the headline, or is it the headline writer? Of course your spell-checker won't catch this because "mislead" is a real word too -- just not the right one here.
I agree with those other commenters who point out that this smells like an opponent's using the Streisand Effect, rather than the congresswoman or her supporters. Either way, though, it's nice to see our political class getting increasingly internet-savvy.
I agree that this lawsuit seems pretty stupid. However, I have to empathize with Johnny Monsarrat. Most of us have youthful indiscretions we'd prefer not to air in public. Surely Johnny Monsarrat's arrest and being accused of harassment fit this category. I hope he can find a different way to clear the air that's better than ill-advised legal action.
Restaurants use their own birthday songs, movies rarely include "Happy Birthday", and even kid-oriented radio stations don't play recordings of this song. Are people paying to download it? Where are the royalties coming from?
I don't think it's fair to say these attorneys practice law by boilerplate. Indeed (as Mr. Masnick indicates in his original post), the documents these attorneys have produced do not sound at all like standard legalese -- they seem casual and unique. I don't think I've ever heard of defendants' colleagues referred to as "minions" in a complaint before, for example.
Thinking about whether intellectual property is unethical, you probably already considered this: In most of the world, recognition that government-granted economic privileges aren't based on morality seems to be the basis for distinguishing between "moral rights" of authorship (like the right of an author to be correctly credited for his or her work) and "economic rights". But of course most moral rights aren't recognized in the U.S.
On the post: MLB Network DMCAs Video Of Bob Costas Torching MLB Pitcher, Which We'll Now Discuss At Length
Good marketers know precisely how to use the Streisand effect
On the post: Chicago Preacher Tries To Stop Spike Lee From Using 'Chiraq' As Title Of Upcoming Film
Remember Spike Lee vs. Spike TV
On the post: Audio Equipment Manufacturer Threatens Amazon Reseller With 'Mandatory Jail Time'
Re: Unauthorized Practice of Law
We have received your complaint against a non-California attorney and have assigned it the number shown below. We will contact you when our evaluation of your matter is complete.
Thank you for your patience.
OFFICE OF CHIEF TRIAL COUNSEL/INTAKE
Inquiry # 14-27528
On the post: Audio Equipment Manufacturer Threatens Amazon Reseller With 'Mandatory Jail Time'
Re: Unauthorized Practice of Law
The State Bar of California
Office of the Chief Trial Counsel, Intake Unit
845 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90017-2515
Attn: UPL Project
To the State Bar of California UPL Project:
This message is to alert you about the possible unlawful practice of law by an unlicensed individual in California.
Marta Thoma Hall (whose business address is Velodyne Corporate Headquarters, 345 Digital Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037) held herself out to be an attorney representing Velodyne Inc., operated a phone "legal prosecution" agency, provided legal counsel to Velodyne Inc., and delivered legal advice -- all without being a member of the California Bar or the bar of any other jurisdiction.
Hall's actions are encapsulated in email messages she sent to at least three vendors on Amazon.com and Ebay.com: "20YearsUSAF" at Amazon.com and Ebay.com; "CCYL" on Amazon.com; and "Barbara's Bag of Holding" on Amazon.com. These actions are documented on Amazon.com at [URL for Amazon Seller Central discussion appears here]
Hall's email messages purpurted to be a notice of "legal prosecution" from an apprently fictitious law firm representing Velodyne, and in that fictitious role advises and counsels recipients misleadingly on their legal rights and responsibilities. The email message sent by Hall to "20YearsUSAF" reads:
[text of first letter from Hall to 20YearsUSAF appears here]
Respectfully submitted
On the post: Audio Equipment Manufacturer Threatens Amazon Reseller With 'Mandatory Jail Time'
Unauthorized Practice of Law
On the post: Pro Music Artists/Reps Force Shutdown Of Awesome Fan-Music Contest For Video Game
I wonder if this will impact crowdfunded movies
On the post: Musician Threatens To Sue Journalists For Defamation For Pointing To His Past Troubles Fulfilling Crowdfunding Campaigns
Poor Streisand
On the post: Sports Radio Blowhard Blowhards After Parody Twitter Account
This is somehow bad for Francesca?
On the post: Senator Wyden: Public Has Been Actively Mislead By Government Officials Over Surveillance
Our Funny Spellcheckers
On the post: TX Congresswoman's Misdeeds Re-Vaulted Into News Via That Pesky Streisand Effect
Streisand Effect as a weapon
On the post: Bogus Lawsuit Plus Threats To Those Who Write About It Leads To Epic Response
Sympathy for the "Devil"?
On the post: Grand Jury Refuses To Indict Teen Arrested For Posting 'Threatening' Rap Lyrics On Facebook
I hope the kid can capitalize on this publicity
On the post: Boston Police Are Catfishing Locals To Bust Punk Rock Shows
April Fools?
On the post: Reminder: Despite What You May Have Heard, Happy Birthday Should Be In The Public Domain
Where do these royalties come from?
On the post: Quackwatch Sued For Suggesting Medical Lab Quackery
Re: crappy lawyer == cartoony lawsuit
On the post: Is Intellectual Property Itself Unethical?
Moral Rights
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