DMCA Abuser Apologizes for Takedown Campaign

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Contact:

Corynne McSherry
   Staff Attorney
   Electronic Frontier Foundation
   corynne () eff org
   +1 415 436-9333 x122

Jason Schultz
   Staff Attorney
   Electronic Frontier Foundation
   jason () eff org
   +1 415 436-9333 x112

DMCA Abuser Apologizes for Takedown Campaign

Michael Crook Agrees to Stop Attacks on Free Speech

San Francisco - Michael Crook, the man behind a string of
meritless online copyright complaints, has agreed to
withdraw those complaints, take a copyright law course, and
apologize for interfering with the free speech rights of
his targets.

The agreement settles a lawsuit against Crook filed by the
Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) on behalf of Jeff
Diehl, the editor of the Internet magazine 10 Zen Monkeys.
Diehl was forced to modify an article posted about Crook's
behavior in a fake sex-ad scheme after Crook sent baseless
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notices,
claiming to be the copyright holder of an image used in the
story.  In fact, the image was from a Fox News program and
legally used as part of commentary on Crook.  But Crook
repeated his claims and then attempted to use the same
process to get the image removed from other websites
reporting on his takedown campaign.

"Crook's legal threats interfered with legitimate debate
about his controversial online behavior," said EFF Staff
Attorney Jason Schultz.  "Public figures must not be
allowed to use bogus copyright claims to squelch speech."

In addition to withdrawing current complaints against Diehl
and every other target of his takedown campaign and taking
a copyright law course, Crook has also agreed to limit any
future DMCA notices to works authored or photographed by
himself or his wife, or where the copyright was
specifically assigned to him.  All future notices must also
include a link to EFF information on his case, as well as
the settlement agreement.  Crook has also recorded a video
statement to apologize and publicize the dangers of abusing
copyright law.

"We're pleased that Crook has taken responsibility for his
egregious behavior," said EFF Staff Attorney Corynne
McSherry.  "Hopefully, this will set a precedent to prevent
future abuse of the law by those who dislike online
news-reporting and criticism."

The settlement with Michael Crook is part of EFF's ongoing
campaign to protect online free speech from the chilling
effects of bogus intellectual property claims.  EFF
recently filed suit against the man who claims to have
created the popular line dance "The Electric Slide" for
misusing copyright law to remove an online documentary
video that included footage of people trying to do the
dance.

For the video statement from Michael Crook:
http://blip.tv/file/169553

For more on Diehl v. Crook:
http://www.eff.org/legal/cases/diehl_v_crook/

For this release:
http://www.eff.org/news/archives/2007_03.php#005161

About EFF

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading civil
liberties organization working to protect rights in the
digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and
challenges industry and government to support free
expression and privacy online. EFF is a member-supported
organization and maintains one of the most linked-to
websites in the world at http://www.eff.org/


     -end-

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