Complain about a product or service

Universal Sues Over Background Music In Toddler Video

Lawyers Go Ape over Use of "Let's Go Crazy"

By Mark Huffman
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 26, 2007 
How closely do the copyright police look at videos on YouTube and other video sites? Really closely.

Universal Music Publishing Group has gone to court, demanding that a 30-second video clip of a dancing toddler be removed from YouTube.

The company makes no claims on the toddler, but lawyers for the music company point out that 18-month old Holden Lenz is dancing to Prince’s “Let's Go Crazy,” which is clearly audible on the clip.

Story continues below video

Universal's lawyers have gone crazy over this. They say it's a copyright violation, and they’ve demanded the clip be taken down – just as Fox did when entire episodes of the Simpsons showed up on YouTube.

In fact, its just the latest, and most extreme, example of content producers attempting to prevent any use of copyright material without their permission.

Universal Music’s parent company, Universal Music Group, attempted to squelch blogger Michelle Malkin’s podcast critical of rapper Akon. The podcast contained examples of Akon’s lyrics, to which the company objected.

Earlier this year Viacom objected to a clip parodying the Stephen Colbert show, which airs on Viacom’s Comedy Central. Viacom later admitted it had no legal grounds to object.

In the latest dust-up, Holden’s mother, Stephanie Lenz, is joining with the Electronic Frontier Foundation to sue Universal. Lenz is seeking damages to cover her legal expenses and wants an affirmative judgment that her clip is not infringing anyone’s copyright.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.