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Around 4pm ET earlier today, I noticed that the site was shut down, and to call our hosting, GoDaddy, support number.
Now, I figured it was either to do too much traffic or any of number of problems related to Godaddy I have been having as of late.
So I called the number and they asked if I received an e-mail from them. Last time the site went offline, and I received an e-mail from GoDaddy, was due to too many database queries.
Anyway, this one wasn’t a hosting issue (which seems to be running pretty darn smooth right now. Webmaster Tip: Make sure you use the Drupal module “boost,” otherwise GoDaddy will shut your site down for too many database queries!), it was a copyright issue.
Copyright?
Ahhhh…the page in question featured the leaked The Dark Knight Rises Prologue.
However, the video was not hosted on Cosmic Book News or GoDaddy’s servers.
Upon reading the “complaint” (see below), I read that it was from Warner Bros., who complained about the page url. Note: I didn’t see any offending video mentioned – as it was not hosted by Cosmic Book News (We just used the embed code). Funny, everybody and their mom had this video up at one time.
In turn, GoDaddy just flipped the off switch and sent the e-mail.
Now usually what happens when we put up leaked material is that the movie studio or publisher will simply send an e-mail asking for us to take it down, or use some security company to do it for them. Heck, they have even offered to put us on their PR List in exchange.
Sure, no problem. Pefectly understandable.
Did Warner Bros. go this route?
Nope. If you take a look at the below complaint, you see Warner Bros. has its own GoDaddy e-mail address.
Hmmmm….
This tells me Warner Bros. did not even want to bother with asking us to take the video down, and knew GoDaddy would yank the entire site.
Instead of simply asking us (again, not on our server), Warner Bros. had to figure out our hosting. I’m not sure if this is even a proper DMCA complaint as DMCA isn’t mentioned, and neither is the specific offending material.
So what if Joe Schmo files one of these things? And it’s happened.
Googling Mr. Michael Bentkover, who filed the complaint, reveals WB is currently in hotwater with Hotfile over copyright fraud and abuse.
I’ve since e-mailed Mr. Bentkover that the video wasn’t hosted by us. Seems he may have figured that out as the video is currenty down at wherever it was hosted.
Below you’ll also see WB head honcho attorney David P. Kaplan involved as well.
Guess, WB was ticked about all these leaks.
Heck, as far as I know the leaked videos could be part of their viral marketing campaign, as spoilers are actually shown to increase fan’s excitement.
Well, we did take the video down, and I’m sure The Dark Knight Rises Prologue will still sound glorious with Bane’s muffled voice up at IMAX, if you happen to live near one of the limited screenings that is.
It’s all good.
Note: I changed the e-mail addresses and phone numbers below.
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. ====================== —–ORIGINAL COMPLAINT—– ====================== VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL RE:������ Unauthorized Use of Warner Bros.’ Property Dear Abuse Manager, I, the undersigned, CERTIFY UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY that I am the owner or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of certain intellectual property rights, said owner being named Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (“IP Owner”). I have a good faith belief that the materials identified in the addendum attached hereto are not authorized by the above IP Owner, its agent, or the law and therefore infringe the IP Owner’s rights.� Please act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the material or items claimed to be infringing. I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate. I may be contacted at: Michael Bentkover |