YouTubers Call Takedown Notices Abusive

YouTube has long been on the forefront of citizen filmmaking, but now it’s hitting the vanguard of citizen litigation. Many are crying foul at the frequency of takedown notices—warnings of infringement by copyright holders. Said one user who sued Universal after video of her baby performing over a Prince track was removed, “I don’t like being bullied.”

Federal law holds “transformative” use of copyrighted material is kosher, the Post says—which could legitimize much YouTube creativity. Some victims of takedowns see ulterior motives: Michelle Malkin says Universal targeted her video about the rapper Akon because it was critical. Other copyrighters, however, are just keeping the record straight: The Electric Slide’s choreographer polices inaccurate versions of the dance. (More YouTube stories.)