A couple of weeks ago YouTube sent me a copyright claim. Content owner, UMG (Universal Music Group) claimed I was infringing their copyright and having illegal content (= music) on my video, called “Flair”.
In this video, filmed back in the day in Kalajoki, after a gig in Dyyni, shows the bartender flairing. It’s 37 seconds long and – indeed – if you listen carefully, there is some music playing in the background. Turn up the volume and you might even recognize the track being performed by Black Eyed Peas.
The Youtube clip is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65EOI3Q6IUE
and if it’s blocked and you can’t see it, feel free to check it here (2,4mb).
Now, judge it yourself – do you think that this amazing piece of video art is fair use of content or copyright infringing?
After my complaint I got a response today from YouTube which can be seen above.
According to the message this video is now blocked everywhere except Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Guam, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Spain, United States, United States Virgin Islands.
And where it’s allowed to be watched, the users will see ads when watching the video.
Just a short final thought – copyright in the form we know it now is dying. Companies trying to “protect” their content is ways like this are not winning the customers to their side but losing them, one by one.
Even though this wasn’t an important video for me at all, this incident pisses me off – a lot.
Other (and much shorter) thoughts about copyright and music business can be read here.
