Go Daddy founder sends infringement notices to web sites hosting stills of his video.
Video of Bob Parsons’ elephant hunting trip in Zimbabwe has made the rounds on the internet over the past week, with many people posting screenshots from it on their web site.
Now Parsons is sending infringement notices to sites that are displaying stills from his video.
Below is a partial copy of an email sent to alleged infringers. I have verified with BayTSP that it is working on behalf of Parsons. I have requested comment from Go Daddy as well but have not heard back.
A Go Daddy spokesperson told Domain Name Wire:
Proper requests for use of images, both still and moving, from Mr. Parsons’ recent Africa trip were granted quite liberally. I’m told he continues to receive, and grant, those requests. However, those individuals and outlets electing to use the material without permission are being asked to remove it, as per relevant copyright law.
Here’s the notice:
BayTSP, Inc. (“BayTSP”) swears under penalty of perjury that Bob Parsons has authorized BayTSP to act as its non-exclusive agent for copyright infringement notification. BayTSP’s search of the protocol listed below has detected infringements of Bob Parsons’ copyright interests on your IP addresses as detailed in the below report.
BayTSP has reasonable good faith belief that Bob Parsons, its agents, or the law does not authorize use of the material in the manner complained of in the below report. The information provided herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, this letter is an official notification to effect removal of the detected infringement listed in the below report. The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Universal Copyright Convention, as well as bilateral treaties with other countries allow for protection of client’s copyrighted work even beyond U.S. borders. The below documentation specifies the exact location of the infringement.
We hereby request that you immediately remove or block access to the infringing material, as specified in the copyright laws, and insure the user refrains from using or sharing with others Bob Parsons materials in the future.
Further, we believe that the entire Internet community benefits when these matters are resolved cooperatively. We urge you to take immediate action to stop this infringing activity. We appreciate your efforts toward this common goal.
That’s going to make it worse!
He’s trying to cover up a mistake which “as he knows” could lead to the detrement of his business – he’s already running very close to the edge..
And in this climate, people will just LOVE to bring rich arse holes like him down!!
Because if there’s one thing geeks love more than hunting it’s copyright takedown notices.
@ Kevin – yeah, I’m thinking this was not a smart move.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
Hiding behind his lawyers’ legs. Typical.
Since Bob Parsons is IN the video, it is pretty clear that he didn’t shoot the video.
How much did he pay the videographer for the copyright to it?
This reminds me of the loyalty concept in reverse. Saw an interesting show a week ago about the base of Apple users who remained extremely loyal to the company through up and down times (which was not an accident).
I was a very loyal Godaddy supporter for years, all for specific reasons that were important to me as a customer. But the last three years my loyalty for GoDaddy has eroded. Primarily because their customer service took a tremendous nose dive, and also when Parsons thoughtlessly trashed the .TV extension. Now, the company’s image seems tied closely to his antics, commercials, and proclivities … which seem to be going from bawdy to truly offensive. All of it unnecessary imo.
Running a company and building a customer base have more to do with good CEO discretion (and taking care of customers) than staging wild, ego-stroking exploits. GoDaddy need to refocus on their customers above all else. That’s my opinion.
Godaddy reminds me of a 40-something guy’s mid-life crisis. It doesn’t realize that it’s all grown up now and needs to act its age, so to speak.
Splurging for the sportscar and sunglasses seems perfectly fine fine looking from his perspective. But to the outside world looking in, it’s just cringe worthy and people quietly laugh behind his back.
It’s becoming more obvious that the emperor has no clothes.
Where can I get some of those pictures ? I would love to post them
He has been desperately trying to selling his company, he just destroyed the brand big time!
I personally hate this company with a passion.
Enom is way better than godaddy !!
First, great reporting, Andrew.
I’m the author of a website called “Mr. Media Training,” which focuses on media communications, often during crises. Mr. Parsons has done about everything wrong in his response.
I’ve just written a new blog post based on the reporting in this article (from there, you can see my two previous articles about GoDaddy’s poor handling of this crisis).
The newest story is here: http://www.mrmediatraining.com/index.php/2011/04/08/go-daddys-war-on-bloggers/.
Thank you,
Brad Phillips
Author, Mr. Media Training
seems all the non editted video’s are pulled.
Tried to search for it but every single one i got the message : video not availabe due to a copyright claim by bob parson..
Seems tobe rather effective
… at this rate of digging, Bob will soon have his hole large enough to hold the carcass of the majestic creature he murdered.
While the stench will be on him forever.
@Brad Phillips
Your site is fantastic. Couldn’t stop reading.
David,
Thank you for your nice words! The blog is a lot of work, so comments like yours are VERY rewarding.
Cheers,
Brad
Stills in the link above. It is considered legal to use stills from a video under the fair use act. It’s legal to use a few stills if you are commenting on the video. I even posted a link to the fair use act in the blog. Notice also the 750 lb almost life size elephant cake he ordered for his birthday. He ate it. That is really messed up.
Simply awesome! Let’s all teach this prick who really holds the power!
What a cheek,what about a payback to the fat arse,take a pic and claim copyrights,did he register for copyrights or taking a chance?up yours bob the slayer,
Wow, lots of anger here. I always envisioned Bob Parsons as the “Larry Flynt” of the Internet. I’ve always thought that GoDaddy’s image was kind of sleazy, and didn’t really trust it as a company. But plenty of people did, so the image he put out there for the company apparently worked for many. Anyway, this will probably blow over. In the meantime, he’s getting publicity, and good or bad, it’s all free.
No surprised, coward that he is. Too late, we cannot ‘unknow’ what we know! One day he will die too and the elephants will be waiting.
@Syd, that saying that all publicity is good is wrong. That was from 50 years ago. Nowadays bad publicity like this can ruin a company. There was a restaurant in LA serving whale meat. They were caught, articles were written, people protested and they closed down in about two weeks. Out of business.
The elephant died.
“BayTSP, Inc. (“BayTSP”) swears under penalty of perjury….”
Exactly how does an entire corporation do this?
Now he has added to the problem – defective DMCA notices.
People must choose registrar (the bosses) that not hunt and kill elephants just for fun!