YouTube Removes Hitler Parodies.

[guruoo]

YouTube Removes Hitler Parodies. Death of a Web Meme?

Sarah Jacobsson



YouTube has recently begun removing videos that feature content from Constantin Films' 2004 film, Der Untergang ("Downfall"), despite the fact that many of these videos are parodies and thus constitute fair use of the material. The Downfall, or Hitler-parody, meme has been, arguably, a viral spat of publicity for Constantin Films in the past few years. The meme takes a now-infamous scene from the movie (the scene in which Hitler reacts to the news that Germany is about to lose the war) and puts satirical subtitles over the action (the movie is in German). Hitler parodies have been made for everything from "Hitler finds out Tony Romo dumped Jessica Simpson," to "Hitler is Fired from Whataburger," to, more recently, "Hitler Responds to the iPad."

According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), these videos are being removed because of YouTube's automated Content I.D. system, which allows copyright owners to disable any videos that contain its content--regardless of whether the videos may be legitimate because they contain other elements. Many of the parodies are still up, as YouTube's Content I.D. system is not perfect--but it's probably only a matter of time before the filtering system hunts them down and removes them.

Of course, the real question is: why? Why has Constantin Films chosen to suddenly claim copyright on these clips after six years--especially when the clips generate interest from parties who are otherwise unlikely to even look at the film (the film, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, was independently produced and is entirely in German). Certainly plenty of wayward YouTubers and Internet-goers have been driven to discover the source of the clips that provide them with so much entertainment. So, yes, you wonder why Constantin Films is suddenly putting the kibosh on this obvious stream of free publicity.

Even the director of Downfall, Oliver Hirschbiegel, thinks the parodies are funny. He told New York Magazine in January 2010: "Someone sends me the links every time there's a new one. I think I've seen about 145 of them! Of course, I have to put the sound down when I watch. Many times the lines are so funny, I laugh out loud, and I’m laughing about the scene that I staged myself! You couldn't get a better compliment as a director."

http://www.pcworld.com/article/194649/youtube_removes_hitler_parodies_death_of_a_web_meme.html

[kenny blankenship]

1. Just wait 'til Hitler finds out about this!

I wouldn't want to be in that windowless underground room. Holy fuck!

[Divine Discontent]

2. yep, let the parody of him finding out he's been removed from youtube begin!

maybe they'll be smart enough to put it on yahoo video or one of the many other big vid sites! ha

[RoyGBiv]

15. Oh, he's heard ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fAQKa8rU_4

[krispos42]

20. Ha!

:rofl:

[d_b]

23. YES!

[deutsey]

24. Very good

:evilgrin:

[Scurrilous]

31. LOL

:thumbsup:

[Turborama]

3. This sucks. Isn't there a way to disable the file's content I.D.? n/t

[XemaSab]

4. Nein!

:o

[provis99]

5. please, please get rid of the annoying rickrolling, too.

after the 1000th time, its not funny and unique anymore, dumbasses.

[CRF450]

7. The rickrolling vids I can sympathize with you their, but the Hitler ones were funny!

When done right.

[Touchdown]

6. That oppressive Apple and Steve Jobs has ruined You Tube ever since they bought it.

Oh'... Nevermind.;)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. You mean people who criticize Apple's dickish moves believe only Apple makes dickish moves?

Oooooookay... :eyes:

[Touchdown]

9. Admit it. The tone of this thread would be very different if Apple bought YT instead of Google.

If you think not, then you're lying. Also... you got something wrong with your eyes.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

10. Perhaps.

Doesn't erase the existence of that Pringles on your clavicle, though.

[Chulanowa]

22. Lays on the scalpula

Pringles on the clavicle... I banish you from DU for your lack of knowledge about snack foods and anatomy!

[Touchdown]

26. Men in glass houses CPD.

:hi:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. I think what he's trying to say...

is that anybody complain about Apple's dick moves is some sort of anti-apple meaney and therefore wrong wrong wrong

[Touchdown]

25. Off the mark a bit

The word your looking for is obsessed, not meaney.

[jberryhill]

28. No, But Obama Has Got To Stop Screwing His Base

...just as relevant.

[Stardust]

11. Those are hilarious! Now I'm addicted and trying to watch the game

and thank you on DU and Shite! I can't do it all!!! :banghead:

Loved the Republican Downfall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7Sg_fZxqQE&NR=1

Hopefully I can watch a bunch before they're gone, gone, gone...

[krispos42]

21. That one was good...

colorful *ahem* language, but that's how I figured the Repubs talked behind closed doors anyway.

[SoCalDem]

12. Something will end up replacing You Tube, and they will return

:)

[JVS]

13. Oh noes!

[PA_Progressive]

14. And on Hitler's birthday no less!

I'll miss the downfall videos.

[Bucky]

17. Hitler was born on 4/20? No shit?

Oh, what the conspiracy enthusiasts could do with that one!

[PA_Progressive]

18. He was indeed

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler

[chollybocker]

16. Mel Brooks is laughing his ass off right now.

[Blue_Tires]

27. eh...they lost a lot of bite after the first two or three...

i still think they should have been left on youtube, though...

[Javaman]

29. Nice post, YouTube. nt

[frylock]

30. meh..

it got old. fast.