But when it is fun, no one cares. Update: it’s all over the news that the IP struggles have begun between Black and her producers, and then it will spin out from there, to iTunes and beyond. And thus does commercial joy turn to legal wrangling and suffering.
The original infamous video that launched a thousand parodies:
This one commits multiple IP violations all at once (despite George Lucas’ death grip on his IP empire):
Giant mashup of cultural icons on late night television:
Not even Hitler is safe from the menace:
{ 31 comments }
Two great videos, but dare I say Friday is when the youngin’s should be looking forward to starting the weekend of WORK on the farm, at the house or at their JOB? “Partying” is for losers (and geniuses like Sheen).
Well I’m sure they paid their royalties like good little boys and girls. I mean, the alternative is too horrid to contemplate. And that Mr. Colbert is such a nice man.
Seems obvious that it’s parody to me, even if the lyrics and melody weren’t changed. Or is that the main issue?
I actually thought the original was parody enough.
My 12 year old thinks the original is godawful. I defer to her judgement on such matters.
I’m sure NBC paid royalties, since I’m sure the last thing they want is to get into legal troubles with that powerful behemoth Ark Music Factory. But seriously, the interesting thing about all the parodies of Friday is that they turn what’s been an almost universally derided song, into something that’s just plain awesome. If Ark Music Factory or Rebecca Black had been zealous and tried to shut down all of these covers, parodies and tributes, she’d have been quickly forgotten. But now, thanks to all of that infringement on her IP, she’s gotten tons of attention, and she’s making probably tens of thousands of dollars, in just the few weeks since it’s been released. Another triumph for IP law.
I’m sorry…parody is a violation of IP?
According to a fictional consistent and logical IP theory it has to be. Nevertheless statutory IP laws do not have to be based on such a theory…
Just make it up as you go along. That is enlightening for all of us.
Oh so you support statutory laws and therefore IP regulations by the state?
Bingo. So the parodies don’t violate the law. And again, I wouldn’t be surprised if NBC paid royalties anyway.
If so then one should at least have a notion of which rules are beneficial and which are not. So since you speak in defense of parody here… what’s the problem with allowing other writers to write a sequel without permission, or use the characters in an alternate universe?
And how do you prove some of these rules are beneficial moreso than others? Isn’t parody insulting to some? Perhaps some authors won’t write if they know their work will be parodied. So maybe we should get rid of the parody rule?
You want to try to prove IP promotes, retards, or has zero affect on innovation? Many others have tried. And I doubt you’re any smarter than them.
Nothing.
Uh…wasn’t it just you who said “one should at least have a notion of which rules are beneficial and which are not”?
Ark Music Factory: That’s a nice parody you have there. It’d be terrible we sued you anyway…
“If Ark Music Factory or Rebecca Black had been zealous and tried to shut down all of these covers, parodies and tributes, she’d have been quickly forgotten.”
Heh, not really. You haven’t been on the Internet for very long. The insults and parodies would only intensify if they attempted to shut down the YouTube accounts and sites.
Et tu, Mises Institute? Might I find no refuge from this song?
On the other hand, the Colbert/Fallon version is hilarious.
Okay. Whatever animosity I felt toward that song is now ameliorated by the Star Wars parody.
Ha! So very true – when money isn’t involved no one cares about IP.
I believe Supreme Court decisions concerning 2 Live Crew established that parody does not fall under the IP violation principle. Of course their ruling made IP totally subjective in enforcement so IP is essentially a government tool to beat others over the head if they want to or reward their friends if they want to.
In other words, it’s exactly like any other piece of legislation.
only Jeffrey Tucker would upload this.
ps.ZOMG cover versions!!! such things they invent these days huh.. I guess IP is doomed
Watching this youtube clip I got another question: What are 10 year old kids doing in that convertible? And they are even driving it? Suspension of disbelief only goes so far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzfQwXEqYaI
Needed a chuckle today. That was very funny.
“The original infamous video that launched a thousand parodies”
I’ve no clue why that is (and maybe that’s precisely the point) but… one cannot say all this easy-copying wouldn’t spur creativity.
One more thing: all these spoofed stars do upload their video officially for everyone to see them for free in the first place now… the times when you had to pay for hit recordings really seem to be over. Go figure. Times really have changed.
Best cover I have seen from a YouTube songwriter Nicepeter Very talented guy.
Indeed, their rendition is actually musically pleasing and soothing, and their clear singing shows how utterly inane the words are are. I love watching the singer (peter) almost crack up laughing during some of the repeating words. Thanks for linking this!
As a I am something of cultural cripple, that was my first (and second…) exposure to that song. There’s something very powerful in the rhythmic repetition of an idea. Now even I’m looking forward to the rebellion!
I haven’t watched that (reportedly awful) video, but why is it being posted on here constantly? I must have seen this video on the Mises Institute and LRC sites around a dozen times by now. I’m sure that these “viral videos” are a few weeks old (and beginning to be forgotten about by their target audience) by the time they start showing up on here.
Coming soon … a new parody … “Hitler discovers he’s no longer the most ridiculed and parodied meme on the internet”
Comments on this entry are closed.