Browsing through the hilarious pages of FailBlog.org during rare moments of downtime has become something of a tradition here at TechCrunch. The site, which is part of the rapidly-expanding Cheezburger Network, painstakingly chronicles some of the funniest (and bizarre) screwups from around the web and real life, ranking them according to just how badly they fare on the Fail spectrum. And today, the Guinness Book of World Records has managed to reach new levels of Epic Fail.
Earlier this week FailBlog posted a screen-grab (see below) of one of the entries on Guinness detailing the “Most Individuals Killed In A Terrorist Act”, which included a link inviting viewers to “Break this record”. It was a classic case of Fail, likely caused by either a site-wide template that included the link or an editor who fell asleep at the wheel.
But rather than just simply fixing the issue, apologizing, and moving on, Guinness has decided to dig a nice, big hole for itself by threatening FailBlog with a lawsuit for featuring the Guinness World Records logo without authorization. This morning FailBlog posted a note to its site (appropriately titled ‘OMG U FAIL SO HARD’) with a screenshot of the threat, along with the site’s response.
From the post:
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thanks for writing us an email regarding the “Record Breaking Fail”. Unfortunately, douchebaggy cyber-bullying emails will only bring upon you more shame on your house. I am also resisting the urge to write this email in ALL CAPS.
I believe it is the duty of FAIL Blog(TM) to call out organizations when they encourage the public to do such things as “Break the record” for the “Most Individuals Killed In A Terrorist Act”. We firmly believe that our publication of your fail is protected under the concepts of fair use, commentary and non-trademark use. Please RTFM and we welcome you to teh interwebs.
Since we at FAIL Blog(TM) don’t have a legal defense department, we have complied with your request to remove the trademarked term and logo from the original image. We have used the “naughty bits filter” on the image to secure your naughty, naughty, trademark assertions. However, we have posted your email so that our audience can see why we had to remove the name of the failer from the image. I hope that this is the outcome you have expected as now NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW THAT GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS LIMITED HAS FAILED.
The letter concludes by inviting Guinness to read the site’s full legal response here: http://icanhaz.com/legalresponse.
And yes, FailBlog just Rick Roll’d the Guinness Book of World Records.
Thanks to super-dev TC alum Henry Work for the tip.
Haha so happy you covered this.
Browsing FAILBlog during RARE moments of downtime??
Pick up the pace TC. Read it more than that. Every office needs more LOLs. For realz.
Wow!
I love it.
I was so happy when I read fail blog’s response to Guinness. They must truly be grade A douchebags to be this protective about of their logo.
i hope someone will step up and represent the site legally pro-bono
Oh my. Some still need the lessons on using the Internet.
failblog = good times
By the way, this is probably my favorite video on the Internet:
OMG — reality can be far more hilarious than even the best sitcom.
I luv turtles!
That is freakin funny.
That was pretty funny. Haven’t seen that one before.
My roommate and I died laughing at this a couple of months ago when we first saw this. He starts describing it!
I can not believe that failblog has the balls to do that. If I was the people from GWRL I would be really up set that they are basically making fun of me and not taking my threat seriously! Way to go FailBlog
FAILBlog rules.
GBWR legal department? Tools.
love it !!
Timely reminder with United also failing at appropriate social media response this week.
1. Have a plan in place to respond to Social Media negative PR.
2. Respond quickly
3. Respond in the same forum that you received the negative publicity.
4. Respond with details on how you intend to resolve the issue.
Guiness World Records turned a minor embarrassing fail into an epic fail.
TC forgot the Post Script .. the bag of dicks
Perhaps someone needs to inform the department of Homeland Defense that some psycho terrorist website is encouraging people to break the record for most lives list in a terror attack.
Well played FAILBlog.
Maybe GBWR can set their own record for how hard they fail…
It would be really funny if you used the GWRL logo in this post. =P
a screen grab can be a copyright infringement?? whoa…..
Is it? Does anyone know?
Certainly, it can be.
In this case, it is almost certainly not.
The screengrab was used to illustrate a discussion about that page itself.
But, yes, a screengrab of a page can be infringement.
Umm. It’s us Canadians doing it. If you want to write the company HQ directly here is the link to their site:
http://www.jimp...rds/default.htm
LOL
Canadia fail!
Wow, I had no idea it was a Jim Pattison company. The same guy that owns the Toyota dealership down the street also runs the Guinness Book… hah.
Sorry aboot the lawsuit threats, eh?
Sometimes reading TechCrunch comments reminds me of being in a frat house—and not in a good way.
Did he die?
(lol couldn’t help it)
Oh, that is great! You have to wonder what this mook thought while he/she/it was making this response up. “Damn this site, how dare they use our logo?!” “…say, are we really saying that someone should TRY to break this record? Uh, hmmm. Maybe I should go to lunch, or something…”
Dopes.
So if they threaten legal action for trademark infringement. Then I’m pretty sure that their criminal act of “inciting violence” would have to be answered at the same time. So who in their PR team would like to volunteer to serve time?
This is definitely classic. GWRL basically indicated that editorial or satirical use of thier trademark without permission is breaking the law? Didn’t they know that encouraging terrorist acts- the inital case of this article in the first place- is against a little law known as The Patriot Act?
I think GWRL should change their trademark and actually steal one from Twitter- The Fail Whale.
Which is a bigger fail- this or G.W. Bush declaring “Mission Accomplished?”
Using the icanhaz.com link and having them Rick Roll’d had me rolling!
One of the best things I’ve read here all year.
Guinness truly committed an EPIC FAIL! HAAHA!
Reading FailBlog only “during rare moments of downtime” is itself a FAIL.
Not quite understanding the concept behind Failblog. Please explain more. Thanks
Meme Comprehension FAIL
Had to be said…
Guinness: EPIC FAIL.
FAILblog: WIN!
That should cover it, huh?
Failblog is THE go to site on a cruddy day. I love the stuff it letter. I hate TM bullies too.
I love it ..!!
I hope guinness consider including themselves in their next edition under ‘most epic fail’
That is a really great idea!
OMG you wrote “guinness” without trademark permission. They will sue.
Really Amazing…..
“side- wide template” fail
I wonder if it’d do any good to boycott the beer. I know the brewer invented the record book, way back in the mists of time.
yakkering.com is funnier
yanks need to be put in their place. GWRL you rock. sue their asses back to the drug den the came out of.
Well, failblog.org could also respond and say that failblog.org is trademarked, and GWRL illegally reproduced that trademark 4 times in their email, and also have broken copyright by reproducing the URL of the site that is protected….
so ummmm.. bite me!
)
PS. LOVE that rick roll!
If I were Failblog, I would have left it and not blurred out the images. This is classic fair use in for both copyright and trademark law.
Let them send a DMCA takedown, the EFF would be all over this.
Nothing bothers me more than overreaching legal statements, like “Use of this trademark without permissions is trademark infringement.”
Well screw you Guinness World Records. (how’s that for trademark infringement?)
You’ve all missed the point – what is really funny is when greedy americans die. Even their government did fuck all to prevent attacks on people they knew in their hearts probably deserved it. I don’t mean YOU by the way, you’re fine but everyone else is dicks.