Universal Music accused of using fraudulent DMCA notices as a negotiating tactic (opens in new tab)

(torrentfreak.com)

76 pointsjancona14y ago9 comments

9 comments

Do we know how much of this is really true? The only actual quotes in here are a pair of vague tweets.

This could be fear-mongering by the anti-music groups, or it could be a stunt to give Skepta more attention/credibility. Or it could literally be false or an otherwise non-story.

Of course, it can be true after all. It just sets off alarms in my head saying "this doesn't seem vetted."

Natsu14y ago

"Anti-music" groups? Is there some group of librarians out there trying to hush anyone playing music or something?

We may not know why the complaint was issued, but we know that the artist released it on his own YouTube account and we know that the video was replaced by a copyright notice. Those are all things that any person browsing the web could verify for themselves.

Only the copyright holder or their agent can authorize a DMCA notice, so it's pretty hard to understand why the artists own upload got taken down.

larrik14y ago

Poor wording on my part. I meant anti music industry groups, (all of the RIAA haters, torrent websites, etc.). I count myself among them, although my reasons are a little different.

There were tons of stories about companies (especially TV studios, I believe) where the PR/Marketing team would post stuff to YouTube, and then Legal would file DMCAs to take it down. I believe that was even a part of the lawsuit against YouTube. So, the idea that something similar happened here isn't ridiculous, especially if Skepta thought he had rights to the music he signed away that he did not in fact have.

fleitz14y ago

Yeah I have a feeling that the chain of events was more along the lines of sign to Interscope, Interscope files DMCA complaint. They don't even have commentary from the artist themselves.

raganwald14y ago

Is it fair to call this "hacking" the DMCA system? Or should we frown and prefer the more pejorative "exploiting?"

onemoreact14y ago

I don't think it's really "hacking" the DMCA when you are simply committing fraud and breaking the law. If anything I would call it simple bulling.

r0s14y ago

I think this fits the intended use case.

joelrunyon14y ago

Earlier submission --> http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2785126

kellysutton14y ago

Well, that's one way to get someone's attention.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

9 comments

larrik14y ago

Do we know how much of this is really true? The only actual quotes in here are a pair of vague tweets.

This could be fear-mongering by the anti-music groups, or it could be a stunt to give Skepta more attention/credibility. Or it could literally be false or an otherwise non-story.

Of course, it can be true after all. It just sets off alarms in my head saying "this doesn't seem vetted."

Natsu14y ago

"Anti-music" groups? Is there some group of librarians out there trying to hush anyone playing music or something?

Only the copyright holder or their agent can authorize a DMCA notice, so it's pretty hard to understand why the artists own upload got taken down.

larrik14y ago

Poor wording on my part. I meant anti music industry groups, (all of the RIAA haters, torrent websites, etc.). I count myself among them, although my reasons are a little different.

fleitz14y ago

Yeah I have a feeling that the chain of events was more along the lines of sign to Interscope, Interscope files DMCA complaint. They don't even have commentary from the artist themselves.

raganwald14y ago

Is it fair to call this "hacking" the DMCA system? Or should we frown and prefer the more pejorative "exploiting?"

onemoreact14y ago

I don't think it's really "hacking" the DMCA when you are simply committing fraud and breaking the law. If anything I would call it simple bulling.

r0s14y ago

I think this fits the intended use case.

joelrunyon14y ago

Earlier submission --> http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2785126

kellysutton14y ago

Well, that's one way to get someone's attention.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse