Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church, home of Pastor Fred Phelps and the "God Hates Fags Campaign," has been hit with copyright infringement from Sony/ATV Music. In a letter to the church, Sony lawyer Peter Brodsky states that a video on the church's website "constitutes a serious infringement of Sony's copyright."
That video is "Hey Jews," the Beatles' hit written as a claim that the Jews are evil reprobates who killed Christ and have yet to repent. The letter from Brodsky goes on to paint "Hey Jews" as an "unauthorized derivative of the Compostion" ["Hey Jude"], "one of the most popular and recognizable songs in the history of popular music."
It's a parody, and it'd be hilarious if it weren't in 100% seriousness. Still, it brings to mind what I once read in Bill Shapiro's The Rock and Roll Review, in that he might not like what you say, but he'll defend to the death your right to say it. This sort of thing chaps my hide six ways from Sunday, but they're legally within their rights. Morally? Well, that's a personal question.
You can watch it below, but keep the volume down, for cryin' out loud. There's a dude yelling the word "cunt" really loud at the beginning.
This brings to light a question I was pondering today. The Flaming Lips once said "I think hell's got all the good bands anyway," but what musician of Christian faith would be good enough to get you to full-on repent and attend church? If you're a hardcore atheist sinner, fallen to the wayside of the road to Heaven, and backsliding to hell, would knowing that Prince is hardcore into Jesus be enough to make you want to get into Heaven?
What about Alice Cooper? Hank Williams? Johnny Cash?
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Pretty sure that what WBC is doing would fall under the 'parody' fair-use defence. In Britain you could probably make a case that they're associating Sony's copyrighted content with hate speech, but in the USA it's not quite so clear-cut. Given their recent legal success against the parents of the soldier whose funeral they protested and who sought damages for the emotional distress they caused, perhaps it's best not to encourage them.
Sufjan Stevens is obviously Christian and he's a bloody genius. I'll agree that most brilliant bands seem to veer toward the irreligious, though.
Good post! A lot of people I've spoken with have still never heard of this church and it's activities.
Besides the obvious negativity that this group spreads, the saddest thing is the kids that are involved in this church. They may never get to actually choose their own spiritual path. They've been totally brainwashed by this twisted 2 dimensional version of Christianity.
I wrote something up about it as well and posted up a couple videos and a picture of a toddler holding a sign that says "you will eat you babies"
Ridiculous.......
http://doodiepants.com/2009/05...
Mattie
You are absolutely right!!!!The way he looks and acts he is the the type of man that I would keep my kids as far away as possible. Who know what perversions this man has. I feel real sorry for the poor children who are involved in this cult. What kind of pshyo problems they probably have.
I have never seen such a disgusting group of people in my life. They are the scum of the earth. Media needs to stop giving them attention where they can show the devils work that they do. I would love to see people picket their love ones funeral and interrupt the mourning that they are going through. Of course the devil doesn't mourn so they probably would care less that a family member or friend dies. Fred phelps looks like a total pervert he is so disgusting looking I can't even stand to look at the picture. They don't like it here in the United Staets why don't they leave no one would miss the devil cult that they are.
Lawsuits seeking redress on copyright infringements are not First Amendment issues. Copyright laws protect intellectual property just as property rights protect individual property. Can someone come onto your front lawn at 2am and scream obscenities? No. They're trespassing. WBC will try to make this a First Amendment issue. However, what they're doing is theft of intellectual property.
"Don't play cards with the devil. He will deal you an awful hand." -- Daniel Johnston
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