Jim Moore (a friend and former Berkman Fellow) received a msg from YouTube that they’ve removed a video of his at the legal request of Viacom. Had Jim posted a Viacom program he’d recorded? Had he posted a clip of his nephew performing a song owned by Viacom? Nah, it was a 30-second video of Jim and some friends eating ribs at restaurant in Somerville. That’s all. Viacom complained to YouTube, and YouTube removed the “offending” video. No explanation of why. No query first. Nothing but one big bully of a company flicking its mighty finger Jim’s way. Oh yeah, the DMCA is a fine law.

John Palfrey explains (and as a Harvard Law professor, he kinda understands this stuff) that Jim is entitled to file a counter notice. In fact, John says, Viacom may owe Jim money if it falsely accused him (as it did) of violating its copyright rights. John wonders if a court might decide that Viacom is papering the house with these take-down notices.

Yo, Democrats, care to take a good long look at the DMCA? Or is there not enough light for that inside Hollywood’s pocket? [Tags: dmca copyright copyleft John_palfrey jim_moore youtube]

Five minutes later: I wonder if Viacom’s spider saw “Redbone” in the title of Jim’s video and thought that it was a clip of Leon Redbone. Does Viacom own Leon Redbone?

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