I think I’d rather fight the MPAA and RIAA than piss off the Electronic Frontier Foundation. They’ve absolutely destroyed Michael Crook, the man who placed a fake Craigslist sex ad and then published as many personal details as possible about the people who responded. Crook got the attention he wanted, including a spot on Fox News.
A number of websites posted an image of Crook from that Fox news spot, and Crook responded by sending out fake DMCA takedown notices. The EFF sued Crook on behalf of one of the sites to receive the notice, 10zenmonkeys.
Crook settled the case, and was required to record this video apology. He is also being required to take a copyright law course.
Crook is clearly a loser, has destroyed the lives of many people who responded to his bogus Craigslist ad, and deserves this kind of humiliation. But it also seems to me that the EFF may be getting a tad over zealous in its desire to defend our right to violate copyright and other intellectual property laws, and needs to take a step back and consider if the oppressed are now becoming the oppressor. In requiring the creation of this video, it seems to me that they’re lowering themselves to the same level as Crook. The guy has been completely humiliated in public now, which makes for great content, but the EFF needs to be careful in how far they go. Defending individuals against huge multi-corporation entities is one thing. Destroying human dignity is something else.
Frankly, removing photos of that face from the public domain is in the public interest.
Ross
So funny
@Ross:
It seems like a pretty bad precedent to publically humiliate someone, even if they seem to deserve it. It feels like a high schooler thing to do vs. somethingthat was mandated by a rights-protecting nonprofit entity.
LOL, one tip when making a video of yourself. Shave off your Hitler mustache first!!!!
Jeff - I am familiar with the case and personally do not have a problem with the video or the deal the EFF got on your behalf. My minor gripe was with Mike on one hand saying ” the creation of this video, it seems to me that they’re lowering themselves to the same level as Crook” whilst at the same time embedding the same video in his post, thereby, by his own line of argument also bringing himself down to that same level. My own view is that there is nothing wrong with the video, and it is a good and effective way of addressing the subject matter.
The DMCA is already too far reaching as it stands. To allow illegitimate DMCA takdown notices to continue to circulate is unacceptable. I applaude the EFF in their effort to silence these false “intimidators.” Who else will defend the small blog or news outlet who revceives one of these notices? Maybe Michael has enough cash to fund his own defense in such cases–most do not.
A HUGE thank you to the EFF!
The guy has been completely humiliated in public now, which makes for great content,
Great content? Useless content.. he deserves what he gets, but I would call this pretty lame material. Agree with all your other points tho, right on about the opressed/opressor angle.
A really bright guy once said, “What stands in the way, becomes the way.” I stand fully behind the EFF and their action in this case. What other group is standing up and saying that we have a right to be happy and pursue the potential that the state of our technology allows us? Whatever his motivation, Crook was attempting to apply a standard of behavior to others that is not logical, or ultimately, enforceable. Or beneficial, for that matter. I can only envision a happy future where both individuals and corporate entities (anyone from the RIAA reading this?) are regularly and publicly brought to account for attempting to control the uncontrollable and to profit themselves thereby.
Michael Crook is now promoting eliminating the Fair Use statute:
http://www.stopfairuse.info/
Michael Crook’s other video on the EFF settlement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWVJG7lr6UE
Just read through all of the comments and there’s key stuff people missed from just reading the article and not the comments:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007.....nt-1223836
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007.....nt-1223899
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007.....nt-1223925
Would love to see the article get update with some of Jeff’s comments (notably that the video was his suggestion, not the EFF’s)
Would it have been better or worse if the EFF had sought a large financial settlement? I’m sure Mr. Crook is pleased that he only got a public scolding for his offenses. And I’m guessing that the EFF chose this remedy as a fitting punishment for the crime.
The important thing here is that someone got him to stop.
Wow… thats about all I can say about this guy. I have no idea what his problem is. Maybe he is angry for getting beat with the ugly stick- I dont know.