Mike Myers threatens McCrabby with legal action for using his image in ad

[babylonsister]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/08/12/mccain-ad-fails-to-amuse-comedians/

McCain Ad Fails to Amuse Comedians

Susan Davis reports on the presidential race.

John McCain’s recent taunting of rival Barack Obama as “the biggest celebrity in the world” has not only gotten under the skin of the Illinois senator, it’s irking the celebrities used in the cameo shots.

First, McCain aired a TV ad, called “Celeb,” that featured images of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. Hilton spoofed the nod in a campaign video of her own where she thanked the “white haired dude” for mentioning her and announced her own 2008 presidential campaign. Hilton’s video has been viewed over 6.6 million times in the past week.

On Monday, the McCain campaign released a Web video called “Fan Club” that features a clip from “Wayne’s World” with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey doing their trademark “We’re not worthy!” line.

While Hilton poked fun at her cameo, Myers was less amused.

According to the McCain campaign’s blog, Myers had his people call McCain’s people to take down the ad with threats of legal action. It worked–it’s not available on YouTube anymore.

“Unfortunately, the final clip of Mike Myers and Dana Carvey doing their ‘we’re not worthy’ bit from Wayne’s World has spurred a celebrity backlash,” Michael Goldfarb posted on the blog this afternoon. “Myers had his people call the campaign to demand that the video be removed from YouTube for copyright violation. Apparently, we are not, in fact, worthy.”

[blondeatlast]

1. A president whose advisers don't understand copyright law? Someone explain how that's good

for the country?

McCrepit's too stupid to be president--it is as simple as that.

[Beaverhausen]

2. I would imagine the film studio would also not be too happy about this

[rinsd]

3. How many times is this guy going to steal copywrighted material for his campaign? A dozen?

[Median Democrat]

9. Can You Blame Him? He Gets Free Air Time On Fox!

Why should he expect to pay the going rate for media coverage? I am sure it caught him by surprise that using a fictional character is would require payment of royalties, which probably throws a wrench in potential plans to team John McCain with Marvel creation Captain America or DC creation superman. In other words, a clip of news footage is arguably fair use. A clip of a fictional creation requirs McCain to pay up.

[tridim]

18. Come on, he's a POW. The law doesn't apply to POW's or Republicans.

[Alexander]

4. I thought Myers was a conservative - he sure votes that way in Canada.

Then again, conservatives in Canada would be like moderate Democrats here.

[Bucky]

7. This isn't politics; it's business. He's conservative about intellectual property theft.

When it comes to theft, it looks like Democrats are the conservatives and Republicans are the loosey-goosey liberals.

[Alexander]

10. Yes but I figured if Myers liked McCain enough, he wouldn't care.

Obviously that isn't the case.

[mhatrw]

22. What are you talking about? Didn't you see his instant solidarity with Kanye West?

[Alexander]

26. You're kidding, right?

Sometimes it's hard to tell.

[rurallib]

5. Good Lord Johnnie Mac - use the right wing celebrities like....

Dennis Miller and Jon Voight and....and......and.... I NEED SOME HELP HERE FOLKS.

[samdogmom]

17. How about Chuck Norris? He thought Huckabee was "the man"! n/t

[tekisui]

29. Toby "Kicked in the balls" Kieth?

[wndycty]

6. McCain had better not act like Meyers is over reacting...its all about copy right and Meyers. . .

. . .is within his rights.

[Hope And Change]

8. K & R!

[nc4bo]

11. Whoops. Haven't they learned diddly squat by now? nt

[EC]

12. I was wondering if they got permission

since those clips are "owned".

[babylonsister]

Probably not if the ad has already been yanked. nt

[JuniperLea]

13. What makes them think they can use whatever they want?

Oh, wait... Republicans... check.

[Overseas]

31. Exactly. Consolidated media ownership in conservative hands.

John Sidney McCain III, with 7 homes, $520 shoes, unlimited credit and lots of media pals, can count on them to give his ads extra coverage and talk them up, good or bad. So they serve their purpose.

[Coexist]

14. no, they are not worthy.

assholes.

[CitizenPatriot]

15. copyright and IMAGE

which to a celeb is their bread and butter

and sorry, but being associate with mccain at this point would be career suicide. just imagine the next gig myers goes on. he gets to his trailer and there are jokes everywhere "mccain lover"! he'd have to go around explaining himself, disassociating himself, etc all day. another reason I LOVE L.A.

in LA, years ago, I was driving down the 101 (I think) and passed someone's house whose entire roof had been covered with lights that read: IMPEACH BUSH. they were up for a long time:-)

mc cain has the nerve and gall to use other people's hard earned images like this? I mean, with paris and britney, it was not OK, but after all, neither of them are famous for their work. Myers coined this phrase -- and some jack as$ loser who graduated bottom of his class and wouldn't be anywhere right now without his mistress's daddy's money (and daddy's willingness to take the fall for corrupt boss so he could make the big bucks when he GOT OUT) feels entitled to use it?

[Major Hogwash]

16. McCain should use people in his ads that endorse him, but then wouldn't that be a joke!!

A bunch of old, white-haired, white men all slapping each other on the back and then coughing so hard they would sound like cats hacking up hairballs!!

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. McCain's new add asks you if you would like to touch his monkey?

"Your political videos have become tiresome!
Now is the time on "Sprockets" vhen ve dance! "

[BrklynLiberal]

20. "Apparently, we are not, in fact, worthy.” You got that right buster.

[mhatrw]

21. Free on point publicity for McCain.

Are the South Park boys running his campaign now or something?

[blogslut]

23. Good

I knew he'd get in trouble if he kept using film clips without permission. It's possible Viacom doesn't mind that he's using a clip from The Ten Commandments and Chuck Heston is probably too ill to care. From what I can tell, the clips of Britney and Paris are paparazzi shots from public appearances. But that Wayne's World clip...I knew that would piss off Mr. Myers. That film is his baby. The studio may have rights for the film but I'm pretty sure Mr. Myers owns the rights to that character.

[Gabi Hayes]

24. I/m pretty sure Heston doesn't care

[blogslut]

25. eeps. I forgot

He already passed.

I'ma goon

[WeDidIt]

27. Rather than the campaign, suit should be filed against John sydney MCCain PERSONALLY

"I'm John McCain, and I approve this message" makes John McCain PERSONALLY responsible for the content.

Thus, any copyright violation is the personal responsibility of John McCain.

Meyers should take the first beach house.

[PVnRT]

28. Wait....Mike Myers is still a celebrity?

[geiger]

30. Gonzo journalism, gotta love it.

may Hunter S. Thompson rest in peace.

[badgerpup]

32. I'm GLAD he's pissing off "celebrities"...

They aren't running for public office, so their hands are NOT tied, and there's none of this "Marquess of Queensbury rules because McCain is an old man and a POW" crap. :grr:

They don't have to 'run a clean, non-negative campaign'...and so are able to hit back, fight dirty, 'go there', etc.

Keep it up, John...you've got yerself a winning formula there! :sarcasm::evilgrin:

[alcibiades_mystery]

33. How ya like your DMCA now, dickhead

:rofl:

Question: On Passage of the Bill (S.2037 as amended ) (Digital Millenium Copyright Act)
McCain (R-AZ), Yea