EFF defends Malkin in Akon row
p2pnet.net news:- Columnist and blogger Michelle Malkin is contesting Big 4 cartel member Vivendi Universal’s attempt to silence her online criticism of one of its artists.
“We believe this is a clear attempt by UMG to hide the truth about Akon and intimidate critics,” she says.
In a recent “Vent with Michelle Malkin” video podcast, she criticized Universal hip-hop artist Akon, calling him a “misogynist” and his antics “vulgar and degrading,” supporting her criticism with excerpts from Akon’s music videos, says the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), which is in her corner.
She also featured “controversial onstage video footage showing Akon with a teenage girl at a nightclub in Trinidad” and, “Malkin’s accompanying commentary condemned both Akon’s lyrics and his behavior,” says the foundation, going on:
On Thursday, May 3 – after Malkin appeared on a nationally syndicated talk radio show to put pressure on Akon’s sponsors – UMG claimed the podcast infringed its copyrights and submitted a takedown notice under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), forcing online video hosting site YouTube to pull the episode down. Yesterday, Malkin filed a counter-notice with YouTube, informing the company that she was legally entitled to distribute her video. Under the DMCA, YouTube can repost Malkin’s video ten days after receiving her counter-notice.
There’s a video circulating online showing Akon having it away on stage in a nightclub. The girl is aged either 14 or 15, dependng on which report you read.
Stay tuned.
Also See:
EFF – Malkin Fights Back Against Copyright Law Misuse by Universal Music Group, May 9, 2007
If your Net access is blocked by goverment restrictions, try Psiphon from the Citizen Lab at thIs the endSurvey: How Did Copyright Infringement Become Equated with Robbery? (of the Net) nigh?zze University of Toronto’s Munk Centre for International Studies. Go here for the official download, here for the p2pnet download, and here for details. And if you’re Chinese and you’re looking for a way to access independent Internet news sources, try Freegate, the DIT program written to help Chinese citizens circumvent web site blocking outside of China. Download it here.
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Tired of being treated like a criminal? They depend on you, not the other way around. Don’t buy their ‘product’. Do bug your local politicians. Use emails, snail-mail, phone calls, faxes, IM, stop them in the street, blog. And if you’re into organizing, organize petitions, organize demonstrations and then turn up on your local political rep’s doorstep, making sure you’ve contacted your local tv/radio station/newspaper in advance. Don’t just complain. Do something!
May 14th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
The Akon video in Trinidad, as well as more on that story, is available at http://www.ttgapers.com/Article1704.html
May 26th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
It’s a shame, but not totally surprising that ignorance overshadows common logic even in the most intellectual people. I guess we are gonna’ begin next by trashing Artists for the retailer who sells materials MARKED Explicit Advisory to under-aged customers……. OOPs I forgot, We already have! How about we boycott Budweiser on behalf of all the “Cool Moms”. Learn to be decent people and respect the Beast that you Invite into your Homes for dinner or else you may Be Dinner. -KoZ
October 29th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
This story didn’t even make the tabloids in the UK. I’m surprised given that newspapers here such as the Daily Mail and Daily Express usually have front page stories accusing someone of being a pedo if they watch a Tatu video!.
Akon is a major star and role model for young men and women, but if this is true, he should be in jail beside Chris Langham or on the run with the likes of Gary Glitter. 14/15 is highly illegal in the USA and still a year or 2 away from being legal in Europe.