From:
video-support@google.com <video-support@google.com>Reply-To:
video-support@google.comTo:
the little guyBcc:
video-support@google.comDate:
Jun 20, 2006 2:08 PMSubject:
Your video has been rejectedHi,
Your video "Colbert_Westmoreland" was rejected because it didn't comply
with our Program Policies.
Videos submitted to our program are subject to an initial review to
ensure that they comply with our guidelines. When videos do not meet
our standards, we disapprove them. You can review our guidelines at:
http://video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=27737&topic=1490.
Please make sure that you have all legal rights to use the content you
wish to submit to Google. For more information about intellectual
property rights and the program, please visit
http://video.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=1490
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
The Google Video Team
From:
the little guyTo:
video-support@google.comDate:
Jun 21, 2006 6:53 AMSubject:
Re: Your video has been rejectedGoogle Video Support,
In reality, my video clip complied with your program policies in every way, as well as the law itself which supersedes your policies. I can only assume, given your total lack of specificity, that you are insinuating that my video clip was a copyright violation of some sort. I refer you to the following from the United States Copyright Office at http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html
“One of the rights accorded to the owner of copyright is the right to reproduce or to authorize others to reproduce the work in copies or phonorecords. This right is subject to certain limitations found in sections 107 through 118 of the copyright act (title 17, U.S. Code). One of the more important limitations is the doctrine of "fair use." Although fair use was not mentioned in the previous copyright law, the doctrine has developed through a substantial number of court decisions over the years. This doctrine has been codified in section 107 of the copyright law.
1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;”
My video clip substantially passes this test; its use is not of a commercial nature. (Notice the or that makes this a two part either or test)
“3. amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and”
My video clip substantially passes this test; the portion used is a tiny fraction of the whole work.
“4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.”
My video clip substantially passes this test; the effect upon the potential market for or value of the clip is negligible at best, and only barely positive for the owner at worst. It has been generally recognized by the courts that not all of these tests must be passed, and that passing any of these three may be grounds for passing "fair use". My video clip passes all three that I have listed, and therefore is legal and of "fair use". I will now address the other points in your equally vague policy.
“illegal content”
My video clip is legal under the "fair use" clause, 17 U.S.C. 107, as well as all other applicable laws in the United States, and therefor is not illegal.
“invasions of personal privacy”
My video clip is not a personal invasion of privacy, it is a completely legal reproduction of a minor part of a copyrighted work.
“pornography or obscenity”
There is neither of these things in my video clip.
“hate or incitement of violence”
I don't really think I even need to address that; it's Stephen Colbert and United States Representative Lynn Westmoreland, whom I am certain would be happy to explain to you the law regarding "fair use" in this matter.
“graphic violence or other acts resulting in serious injury or death”
Irrelevant.
“inaccurate or irrelevant metadata (spam)”
I did in fact properly attribute the video clip to Comedy Central, which only serves to fully reinforce my rights under the law to use the clip under "fair use".
“violations of copyright. Please see our Copyright Policy for more information.”
Please read the entire message above again, because I am well within the rights granted to me under the law. I would like to remind you that Google has been exercising this right to build it's book search engine, even over the express objections (and lawsuits) of the authors whose copyrights they believe you as a company are violating. I am not one to miss the irony of it all.
Because your policy states specifically that a clip may be rejected for "violations of copyright", you may at your leisure restore my video clip given that I have explained in detail how my clip exists legally and may be reproduced within well the stated exceptions in copyright law.
In order to be exceptionally thorough, I refer you to your own policy page at http://video.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=26617&topic=8707 which states that "Both copyright law in your country and the Upload Program Terms and Conditions prohibit distributing copyrighted works, unless you have the legal right to do so." I have the legal right to distribute this copyrighted work under 17 U.S.C. 107. By your own policy, I have the right to upload and share this video.
Please restore it as soon as possible, and thank you for your time in fixing this matter.
Sincerely,
Paul William Tenny
