Wednesday, September 19, 2007

YouTube bans Rational Response Squad following complaint

Rational Response Squad was banned by YouTube after it complained that it's videos were being taken down without cause:

YouTube has banned a group called the Rational Response Squad after it complained its videos were being taken down due to spurious DMCA requests from creationists.

The takedown followed copyright requests sent by Creation Science Evangelism Ministries, an organization founded by currently-imprisoned tax evader Kent Hovind. The Squad says the clips comprise material that is either public domain, covered by fair use, or entirely self-produced.

If the material was fair use, than Creation Science Evangelism shouldn't harass YouTube into taking down the video. If they don't like it, they should respond to it. It's better to be in dialogue than to push your weight around unfairly. But if Rational Response Squad was in violation of copy right law, then Creation Science has every right to protect their material.

But, tsk tsk to YouTube for banning the group just because they complained. Sounds a little over the top and something you would expect from dictators.