DeathofSpeech
New Member
I have posted a new thread so as not to dilute the one being used to discuss actual DMCA fraud.
RFC: open topic
DeathofSpeech
DMCA abuse media awareness strategy.
Please consider and comment.
Welcome to amateur hour activism.
So far this appears to be a monologue.
On a board full of free thinking rational people, is there nobody with a criticism, addition, or suggestion?
I would expect the least you could do is post LOLZ.
Item 1:
While I was uploading a mirror of Freedom0Speech's most recently abused vid, a little banner popped up above the upload.
"Are you uploading a video that was shot on July 24, 2010? If so, submit it to Life In A Day, a global experiment to document a single day on earth. Your video could end up in a documentary film produced by Ridley Scott and scheduled to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. "
If they are planning on posting this to YouTube are they aware that it can be taken down in 5 minutes by an unidentifiable person?
I think Mr. Scott needs some submissions... detailing just who YouTube really is.
Oh Look... another handy automated form. http://www.newsopi.com/tech/youtube-life-in-a-day-new-user-generated-film-project/3228/
Leaving a comment might make them notice something.
Item 2:
The DMCA seems to provide, and I am not a lawyer but I can read, that IF a video or collection of videos were filed and recorded for US Copyright, and notification sent to YT, that accepting an anonymous claim and pulling the video after that would put YT in violation.
It also appears that they are already in violation because the DMCA specifically requires AND defines the required standard for a US federal court subpoena necessary for them to give out personal info.
I suggest an aggressive strategy is in order.
We need a "judas goat."
We need a partner account willing to:
a) post a video or collection of videos dealing bluntly with controversial topics likely to be false flagged for DMCA.
b) willing to spend (and accept donations toward) filing for US Copyright and the recording thereof. a few hundred dollars if filed as a compilation.
c) willing to secure an IP attorney
d) willing to drag YT itself into court for a DMCA claim.
e) willing to make time for the press if required.
not gonna hold my breath waiting for someone to volunteer to fall on their sword... It's just a thought.
Item 3:
I've made contact with BBC Worldnews and was sent the email for their newsdesk.
I did send them a detailed explanation of the DMCA Form exploit and detailed directions on how to reproduce it for themselves.
I have not yet heard back from them.
If anyone wants to add their voice, I'll share the email addy by PM.
I do not know if their silence is a matter of in-depth responsible research of if they decided I must be a crackpot because a company as large as YT would know better.
A few added inputs might cause them to consider the matter seriously if they have not already done so.
I've also pointed out to them that rather large partner accounts do not appear to be immune. That if this is also true of their own channel, that a single person could silence them for posting anything they didn't like and that editorial commentary was already under active attack.
Item 4:
I've been in contact with the Electronic Frontiers Foundation.
I've been informed by their representative that they are aware of the issue and are pursuing it with YT.
The manner of the pursuit wasn't indicated other than I have the sense that they began by asking politely.
I've asked them to comment on a list of statements which I believe encompass the issue.
These include the question of whether YT might be in violation of the DMCA, whether they might be held responsible should their anonymous identity harvesting script be used in the commission of a serious criminal act, etc...
I have not received anything back yet.
I suspect that additional inquiries aren't necessary, but I will admit that I have no clue. Maybe they assess the importance of their tasks according to what email topics are most common. Dunno.
Item 5:
I suggest a demonstration of the gravity of the exploit. It will require technical skills I don't have.
Nothing illegal in this, but a proof of concept exploit that will show anyone willing to watch just how really stupid this situation really is.
It will require an account creation script, data list etc.
A set of videos to be uploaded to the created accounts specifically addressing the exploit if possible.
An attack script limited in scope to only the accounts created by the account creation script. It MUST be absolutely certain to lodge DMCA claims only against the demonstration accounts.
The names and addresses used should be cross-checked against real addresses and identities to make certain that no real person can be mistakenly involved.
I also suggest that a neutral and trustable uninvolved party be used to catch the return personal info from the cross-claim.
If BBC worldnews is willing, they would be ideal.
We would need to make sure that the attack script is throttled so that it doesn't interfere with YT's ability to carry on as usual.
The number of accounts created should be substantial but not large enough to flood YT or overrun their storage.
I suggest that perhaps 500 - 1000 accounts each hosting a set of 3 dummy DMCA abuse videos. Too much? too little?
Then I think we should consider staging a mass takedown of the created test accounts hopefully in full view of the world complete with a list of ostensible people and their personal information being automatically distributed to an anonymous attacker.
No law would be broken so far as I can see, other than that YT would be seen basically bleeding personal information from every pore.
None the less, I would not put it past them to press criminal charges.
I'm willing to be first up against the wall for this issue folks.
They can point to me as the cyber-terrorist organizer if they choose.
EDIT - I've re-read this and it sounds like "how about if you guys go do this..."
This is what I'm asking for: software expertise.
I am not competent to write the software required. I am reluctant to make a mission critical software the project on which I base learning to do so.
I am willing to arrange exposure... Contact media etc. and arrange that someone is watching.
Then I'm willing to push the button.
Added:
Item 6:
While we can criticized YouTube for horrifically bad implementation of DMCA Title II, historically they have misdirected attention away from them by claiming that the DMCA requires this implementation. Rather than argue whether this is the case or not, we should become personally familiar with the online text of the law and confront the suggestions YT is propagating as a smokescreen.
But most importantly, If we compile a number of ideas on how to rework their form in a manner that is still completely compliant with timely action on DMCA claims it will make their objection seem less rational.
RFC: open topic
DeathofSpeech
DMCA abuse media awareness strategy.
Please consider and comment.
Welcome to amateur hour activism.
So far this appears to be a monologue.
On a board full of free thinking rational people, is there nobody with a criticism, addition, or suggestion?
I would expect the least you could do is post LOLZ.
Item 1:
While I was uploading a mirror of Freedom0Speech's most recently abused vid, a little banner popped up above the upload.
"Are you uploading a video that was shot on July 24, 2010? If so, submit it to Life In A Day, a global experiment to document a single day on earth. Your video could end up in a documentary film produced by Ridley Scott and scheduled to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. "
If they are planning on posting this to YouTube are they aware that it can be taken down in 5 minutes by an unidentifiable person?
I think Mr. Scott needs some submissions... detailing just who YouTube really is.
Oh Look... another handy automated form. http://www.newsopi.com/tech/youtube-life-in-a-day-new-user-generated-film-project/3228/
Leaving a comment might make them notice something.
Item 2:
The DMCA seems to provide, and I am not a lawyer but I can read, that IF a video or collection of videos were filed and recorded for US Copyright, and notification sent to YT, that accepting an anonymous claim and pulling the video after that would put YT in violation.
It also appears that they are already in violation because the DMCA specifically requires AND defines the required standard for a US federal court subpoena necessary for them to give out personal info.
I suggest an aggressive strategy is in order.
We need a "judas goat."
We need a partner account willing to:
a) post a video or collection of videos dealing bluntly with controversial topics likely to be false flagged for DMCA.
b) willing to spend (and accept donations toward) filing for US Copyright and the recording thereof. a few hundred dollars if filed as a compilation.
c) willing to secure an IP attorney
d) willing to drag YT itself into court for a DMCA claim.
e) willing to make time for the press if required.
not gonna hold my breath waiting for someone to volunteer to fall on their sword... It's just a thought.
Item 3:
I've made contact with BBC Worldnews and was sent the email for their newsdesk.
I did send them a detailed explanation of the DMCA Form exploit and detailed directions on how to reproduce it for themselves.
I have not yet heard back from them.
If anyone wants to add their voice, I'll share the email addy by PM.
I do not know if their silence is a matter of in-depth responsible research of if they decided I must be a crackpot because a company as large as YT would know better.
A few added inputs might cause them to consider the matter seriously if they have not already done so.
I've also pointed out to them that rather large partner accounts do not appear to be immune. That if this is also true of their own channel, that a single person could silence them for posting anything they didn't like and that editorial commentary was already under active attack.
Item 4:
I've been in contact with the Electronic Frontiers Foundation.
I've been informed by their representative that they are aware of the issue and are pursuing it with YT.
The manner of the pursuit wasn't indicated other than I have the sense that they began by asking politely.
I've asked them to comment on a list of statements which I believe encompass the issue.
These include the question of whether YT might be in violation of the DMCA, whether they might be held responsible should their anonymous identity harvesting script be used in the commission of a serious criminal act, etc...
I have not received anything back yet.
I suspect that additional inquiries aren't necessary, but I will admit that I have no clue. Maybe they assess the importance of their tasks according to what email topics are most common. Dunno.
Item 5:
I suggest a demonstration of the gravity of the exploit. It will require technical skills I don't have.
Nothing illegal in this, but a proof of concept exploit that will show anyone willing to watch just how really stupid this situation really is.
It will require an account creation script, data list etc.
A set of videos to be uploaded to the created accounts specifically addressing the exploit if possible.
An attack script limited in scope to only the accounts created by the account creation script. It MUST be absolutely certain to lodge DMCA claims only against the demonstration accounts.
The names and addresses used should be cross-checked against real addresses and identities to make certain that no real person can be mistakenly involved.
I also suggest that a neutral and trustable uninvolved party be used to catch the return personal info from the cross-claim.
If BBC worldnews is willing, they would be ideal.
We would need to make sure that the attack script is throttled so that it doesn't interfere with YT's ability to carry on as usual.
The number of accounts created should be substantial but not large enough to flood YT or overrun their storage.
I suggest that perhaps 500 - 1000 accounts each hosting a set of 3 dummy DMCA abuse videos. Too much? too little?
Then I think we should consider staging a mass takedown of the created test accounts hopefully in full view of the world complete with a list of ostensible people and their personal information being automatically distributed to an anonymous attacker.
No law would be broken so far as I can see, other than that YT would be seen basically bleeding personal information from every pore.
None the less, I would not put it past them to press criminal charges.
I'm willing to be first up against the wall for this issue folks.
They can point to me as the cyber-terrorist organizer if they choose.
EDIT - I've re-read this and it sounds like "how about if you guys go do this..."
This is what I'm asking for: software expertise.
I am not competent to write the software required. I am reluctant to make a mission critical software the project on which I base learning to do so.
I am willing to arrange exposure... Contact media etc. and arrange that someone is watching.
Then I'm willing to push the button.
Added:
Item 6:
While we can criticized YouTube for horrifically bad implementation of DMCA Title II, historically they have misdirected attention away from them by claiming that the DMCA requires this implementation. Rather than argue whether this is the case or not, we should become personally familiar with the online text of the law and confront the suggestions YT is propagating as a smokescreen.
But most importantly, If we compile a number of ideas on how to rework their form in a manner that is still completely compliant with timely action on DMCA claims it will make their objection seem less rational.