What started out as a funny, accurate and refreshing take on the farce that is Freeview in Australia has grown into something much uglier. UPDATED.Last week, after we showed you the parody ad by comedian Dan Ilic and Triple J presenter Marc Fennell, advertising publication Adnews reported that Freeview were considering legal action against the duo. That was quickly updated, but not before a heap of publications like Crikey, The Australian, and TechWiredAU picked up on it. Of course, when they were questioned about threatening legal action against the video’s makers, Freeview responded with a clear and concise, “No”.
So, you’d think that would be the end of it. But no. Hours after Freeview denied threatening legal action, YouTube pulled the video for allegedly violating terms of use. Asher Moses over at the SMH is convinced that the only way that could have happened is if Freeview requested YouTube to pull the clip down, while Freeview has explicitly denied any such action to Margaret Simons over at Crikey.
The end result of all of this, of course, is that a funny video that would have only lasted a few days in the eyes of the Internet has now received mainstream coverage for five days or so, amplifying the message that Freeview is a joke.
So who’s telling the truth? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter, because as any online evangelist will tell you, once something goes online, you can never take it back. The original parody, although pulled from YouTube, has shown up on several other sites, expanding its audience even further. The real question is whether Freeview is actually going to learn from the experience – my heart hopes it does, but my gut knows it won’t…
UPDATE:Turns out those bastards at Freeview did have the clip pulled down. In an email to Margaret Simons at Crikey, Google spokeman Rob Shilkin said:
I wanted to confirm that we received a DMCA notice for lawyers acting on behalf of Freeview Australia Limited to remove the video in question.
So, essentially the Freeview lawyers (and the people who pay them) are lying douchebags. Kind of makes me glad I have Foxtel, really.
Hirsty
March 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Free what?
Report Permalinkdmj
March 10, 2009 at 12:59 PM
The Streisand effect in action.
Report PermalinkWhen will they learn.
retort
March 10, 2009 at 1:13 PM
@ hirsty
free-duplicates
Report Permalinkjeremy
March 10, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Almost certainly a breach of DMCA process (yet again). Parody is usually protected under copyright law (as the lawyers in question well know), hard to judge given that none of us can see the parody. The lawyers in question and freeview have potentially committed a serious offense – they have possibly sworn a false oath. I would suggest the owners of the parody make a formal complaint to the Law Council for professional misconduct against the firm and contact the Australian communications authority and the Minister about freeview.
Report Permalinksimon
March 10, 2009 at 8:57 PM
streisand effect FTW – i hadn’t seen this before, so i watched it and lol’d. it’s all true too.
http://www.thestreisandeffect.com/
Report PermalinkJmac
March 11, 2009 at 5:50 PM
It’s back on Youtube,poor old Freeview the truth really does
Report Permalinkhurt.For a comparison checkout freeview.co.uk
Peter
March 18, 2009 at 11:28 AM
“threatening legal action against the video’s makers” and requesting the removal of content from a third party that violates your copyrights are two very different courses of action.
Regards
Peter Gillespie
Report PermalinkAndrew
April 15, 2009 at 5:54 AM
How true is this! The only thing i watch on commercial tv is 2.5 men. more crap coming.
Report PermalinkBig V
December 26, 2011 at 5:32 PM
Northing to watch on Freeview or I should say Crapview. Constant repeats of COPS, 2.5 Men, MASH and other rubbish instead of showing sport live and what is the point of the HD channels 7mate, ONE and GEM?
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