ISP Forgets Parody Is Protected Speech

Last time I checked protected speech only lives in the realm of the government.

... yup. However, I suspect Exxon or these other companies that have been parodied pressured the host into pulling the plug with threats, etc.

seems logical.

also, screw broadview networks.

on my offshore server. At no charge. Someone give me their contact info.

hmmmm....
I would be looking for a good lawyer

Too often, someone says something spiteful and mean about someone else and then retreats and says it was parody. Of course, an organization like Exxon ought to ignore stuff like this. Who cares about a rogue website?

The problem, as I understand it, is that the friggin DCMA protects ISPs who react to take down letter in good faith, but not ones who don't.

There needs to be a tort for bad faith take down letters.

As I understand it, their products (i.e, their videos) are based on pretexting and not all that different than what was done by HP. Why aren't the Dems dragging them into hearings like they did HP?

They're pretending to be fictional powerful people who work for major companies, not pretending to be real people.

No, the issue is different.

What basically happened is Exxon got these guys turned off because they did not like the parody website, but said website parody is completely legal and Exxon has no right to request that it be shutdown.

What a sad day in the world when parody is no longer acceptable. I think it speaks volumes about the companies/individuals in question when they "doth protest too loudly". Must get under their skin...

people@theyesmen.org

Try to start your offer there.
Let me know if you get anywhere.

wow ... powerful oil executives getting their own way...I am sooooo shocked!

Sounds like they are a little embarrassed that they actually thought at first that The Yes Men had a viable idea.

"Yes! We can just turn the dead bodies from our original product into our next product"!

quote:

---

On June 14, 2007, the Yes Men acted during Canada's largest oil conference in Calgary, Alberta, posing as ExxonMobil and National Petroleum Council (NPC) representatives. In front of more than 300 oilmen, the NPC was expected to deliver the long-awaited conclusions of a study commissioned by U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. The NPC is headed by former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond, who is also the chair of the study.

In the actual speech, the "NPC rep" announced that current U.S. and Canadian energy policies (notably the massive, carbon-intensive exploitation of Alberta's oil sands, and the development of liquid coal) are increasing the chances of huge global calamities. But he reassured the audience that in the worst case scenario, the oil industry could "keep fuel flowing" by transforming the billions of people who would die into oil.

The project, called Vivoleum would work in perfect synergy with the continued expansion of fossil fuel production. The oilmen listened to the lecture with attention, and then lit "commemorative candles" supposedly made of Vivoleum obtained from the flesh of an "Exxon janitor" who died as a result of cleaning up a toxic spill. The audience only reacted when the janitor, in a video tribute, announced that he wished to be transformed into candles after his death.

---

Unbelievable.

Bring on the EFF... Exxon has a lot of money. They should be relieved of some of it (And the ISP too) for pulling this crap.

This isn't a free speech issue. Since your speech is via a corporate megaphone, they can turn it off when they want. But no government runs an isp that we can be guaranteed would protect free speech, so what are the alternatives?
I would hope this company would fair poorly in a decision to pick an isp in the future.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Oh man is this on YouTube somewhere?

ROFL

Threatening hosts of parody websites, suing magazines who publish negative reviews of their products... soon it'll be illegal to say anything but nice things about our corporate masters!

any money taken out of exxons pockets will be replenished via the price at the pump!

So what? I'd take free speech over cheap gas any day.

How are you going to contact them via email if their ISP shut them down?

The ISP should foot the bill for the legal fight? Do you realize the only winners in the situation are the lawyers. Exxon could run this ISP out of business via legal fees.

Let's day this customer is a $100/mo customer. That barely buys you an hour of time with a decent lawyer. How much should they spend to defend this?

They should have handled it a little better like "Hey guys we got this letter and were not going to fight it. You need to find a new hosting company with bigger pockets." Instead of killing their accounts abruptly.

its tough finding an isp that doesnt immediately bend over for companies like exxon.

Very true, The Yes Men exercised their rights of free speech through parody, Exxon exercised their rights of free speech through threats and Broadview Networks exercised their free speech by caving under pressure and not understanding how free speech works.

It's like a big free speech party with free speech streamers and free speech cake for everyone.

Why anyone would do business with an ISP or hosting company that bows to any generic request for removal, is beyond me. I think I'll call up Level 3 and request that google be removed from their network. I find it's multicolor design offensive.

ht tp://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-338819014348247258&q=free+trade

*Edit- edit
*Edit #2- The presentation at the conference in Finland (about 30 or 35 minutes in) is reason enough by itself to watch, imo.

The server shows that an e-mail from me went through ok. No not-deliverable message.

Did you think to look them up yourself? I mean how hard does that have to be?

Yes, that is true. But people seem to forget that time after time after time.

Exxon has every right to request it be shut down. The ISP didn't have to listen to them, but they were afraid of Exxon's lawyers. I guess the Yes Men need to find an ISP with bigger stones.