One of the joys of running an entertainment/gossip site is the fun in dealing with lawyers and the flunkies they get to do there legwork. This one I received today very nearly takes the cake though since A) We've never had a DMCA notice from any Time, Inc. site, B) Time, Inc. PR people contact me on a regular basis with press releases or information on upcoming exclusives, and C) the notice, while dressed up like a DMCA notice, is not a valid notice.
Re: DMCA Copyright Notice
Dear Website Proprietor:I am an attorney for Time Inc., the corporate publisher of People Magazine. This will put you on notice that Time Inc. will publish an exclusive interview with Paris Hilton in the issue of PEOPLE Magazine on sale June 29, 2007.
In the past your website has posted copyrighted material which have been either owned by or licensed exclusively to Time Inc. for publication in People Magazine and on People.com, in violation of Time Inc.'s exclusive rights.
This letter is an official notification under the provisions of Section 512(c) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that the posting of any scanned editorial content from People Magazine, including the Paris Hilton interview, would infringe Time Inc.;s rights.
I have a good faith belief that use of such editorial content in the manner set forth herein would not be authorized by of Time Inc., its licensing representatives, or the law. The information provided herein is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I hereby swear under penalty of perjury that I am authorized to act on behalf of Time Inc. for matters pertaining to notification of infringement of its exclusive rights in its copyrighted material.
Very truly yours
Nicholas J. Jollymore
Deputy General Counsel
Time Inc.
Maybe this is some bizarre marketing strategy, since CNN (also owned by Time) is running the first interview with the fresh out of jail heiress this evening. By the time People hit's the stands she'll be even older news than she already is. Unless Paris confesses to giving the prison guards reach-arounds Mr. Jollymore and his team of paralegals can rest assured that Wizbang Pop! won't bother to even read his companies copyrighted content let alone link to it...
Update: See the video of MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski rebelling against her corporate masters and refusing to lead the news with a Paris Hilton story; it's priceless.
Permalink | E-mail This | Technorati Links | Sphere: Related Content | Digg this! | FARK It!
Filed under:
Mailbag
Comments (11)
Paris Hilton...like Ann Cou... (Below threshold)1. Posted by nogo postal | June 27, 2007 7:51 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Paris Hilton...like Ann Coulter...offer nothing more than fluff...This place has a low bar...after all it allows me...however those that bump their heads on this bar....
1. Posted by nogo postal | June 27, 2007 7:51 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 19:51
2. Posted by Rovin | June 27, 2007 7:52 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Looks like someone's got far too much "Time" on their hands Kev, but it is flattering that they took the time to notify. They got their big eye on ya. Hoo Hoo
2. Posted by Rovin | June 27, 2007 7:52 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 19:52
3. Posted by yo | June 27, 2007 7:59 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Who the hell reads Time any more, anyway?
3. Posted by yo | June 27, 2007 7:59 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 19:59
4. Posted by Deas | June 27, 2007 8:02 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
You know, if I were going to fake/spam a preemptive copyright notice, I'd at least make an attempt to be impeccable with both my grammar and diction. Legalese isn't pretty, but it is technically accurate. Subject-verb agreement mistakes and their kin are simply unacceptable.
4. Posted by Deas | June 27, 2007 8:02 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 20:02
5. Posted by John in CA | June 27, 2007 8:14 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Or People mag for that matter...
If I'm in a waiting room and the choice of reading material is People or Better Homes & Gardens, I'll choose the latter.
5. Posted by John in CA | June 27, 2007 8:14 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 20:14
6. Posted by pjaykc | June 27, 2007 8:30 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
His name is really "Jollymore?" Are you sure someone isn't putting you on?
6. Posted by pjaykc | June 27, 2007 8:30 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 20:30
7. Posted by fishbait | June 27, 2007 8:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Kevin, Kevin. I have to take issue with your closing paragraph - the proper pluralization is "reaches-around"!
7. Posted by fishbait | June 27, 2007 8:44 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 20:44
8. Posted by Kevin | June 27, 2007 9:22 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
One guard, multiple reaches-around.
Multiple guards, individual reach-arounds.
At least that was my reasoning...
8. Posted by Kevin | June 27, 2007 9:22 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 27, 2007 21:22
9. Posted by Scrapiron | June 28, 2007 1:19 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I wonder about the mantal capacity of anyone (other than her mother who cares for the money and fame) that cares what the hell happens to Paris Hilton. Withour the Hilton money she'd be another $10 street corner hooker, looks like one anyway.
9. Posted by Scrapiron | June 28, 2007 1:19 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2007 01:19
10. Posted by Paul Hooson | June 28, 2007 12:58 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is further proof that the DMCA was bad law that never should have been passed by Congress that created a blur with existing "fair use" of photos for educational purposes in a news context. No where in the letter does the attorney allow any room for legal and normally accepted "fair use" for an educational or news purpose where profit is not at stake.
10. Posted by Paul Hooson | June 28, 2007 12:58 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2007 12:58
11. Posted by nogo postal | June 28, 2007 3:27 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
This is a reason the concept of "net neutrality" now before the FCC is so important....if you are unfamiliar with this battle....become aware..
It is about really big money wanting control...
I recognize Wizbang as an important part of democratic dialog..
This is a common ground for all of us...
educate yourselves...then contact your elected reps and the FCC...
Give me Net Neutrality..or give me a totalitarian state..
11. Posted by nogo postal | June 28, 2007 3:27 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on June 28, 2007 15:27