Warner Music Issues Takedown On Copyright Presentation

Techdirt reports that Warner Music has issued a takedown notice for one of Larry Lessig’s videos. The video is a presentation given by Lessig at the OFC Conference in San Diego, CA, and Warner claims that it violates their copyright. Lessig is known to be a defender of fair use, and is a founder of Stanford’s Fair Use Project, so Warner is essentially picking a fight with the Professor of Law.

In the video, he really sums up how remix culture is challenging today’s outdated copyright laws. Music is a big focus of Lessig’s talk, he mentions Kutiman’s compositions made from YouTube videos, and remixes of The Muppet Show’s “Ma Na Ma Na”. Watch the presentation after the jump:

The presentation is a bit long (48 minutes), but Lessig makes a few good points. He recognizes the importance of how networking has sparked new creativity, and new ways for people to communicate. Copyright law is currently trying to regulate the sharing culture, and forces people to stop creating.

Lessig said in a Twitter update that he would fight Warner’s DMCA takedown, and Warner doesn’t even seem to have any reason to make such a claim. But given the history of the two parties involved, it might shape up to be quite a legal battle.

What do you think about the presentation? Does Warner Music have a chance against Lessig?

Source: Techdirt, Slashdot