Legal Radar

Court: Google Won’t Have to Get Rid of “Innocence of Muslims” Video

A federal Court of Appeals in San Francisco early this week overturned last year’s ruling that demanded Google to remove a YouTube video, in which an actress was seen to have made anti-Muslim statements.

A majority of the 11-judge panel of the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that Cindy Lee Garcia’s video performance, the actress who objected her portrayal in the clip, called “Innocence of Muslims,” didn’t entitle her copyright protection of the film, which a three-judge panel from the 9^th Circuit ruled in 2014.

In the absence of copyright protection, it was ruled by the 9^th Circuit, that Garcia has no power to order Google to remove the video off YouTube.

The court threw out an injunction issued in the previous year that prompted Google to remove the film. It reinstated from an earlier ruling which found Garcia without copyright protection.

Garcia believed her performance in the film gave her copyright protection and that such shield would allow her to get YouTube to take it down.

Revenge Pornography Now a Criminal Act in United Kingdom

Revenge pornography is now deemed a criminal offense in the United Kingdom.

Parliament recently passed a legislation indicating that any individual who passes around sexual images without the consent of the subject and with intentions to trigger harm may be punished with a penalty and a maximum prison time of two years.

The debate has increased in recent years including the widespread use of digital cameras and videos, and easy online uploads.

In the United States, it passed laws that specifically targets the issue. 12 of the country’s states have passed laws in relation to revenge pornography. In certain cases, advocates of free speech fought in return against laws deemed too vague or arguing that current laws regarding copyright and harassment are sufficient.

The law would appear as if the United Kingdom would include elements that regularly allow other countries to adopt such as targeting individuals who have intend to hurt others by uploading or passing images against their will.

Court Looking Into “Innocence of Muslims” Footage

A video in YouTube that triggered mass protests in the Muslim makes its way back to the spotlight early this week. The issue involved a legal battle between an actress and numerous internet and media firms.

A panel of judges from the Ninth Circuit of Appeals in Pasadena, California, will look into the previous ruling made on Cindy Lee Garcia, an actress of the “Innocence of Muslims,” regarding a copyright claim on her acting performance.

The previous ruling was heavily criticized by internet and media firms since allowing a copyright claim to an actor/actress will make it challenging to create films and forcing media outlets such as YouTube to copyright claims.

A three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit gave a 2-1 ruling early this year allowing Garcia copyright claim on the film which led YouTube to delete the video at her request.

Despite the ruling, the court agreed to look into the case once again. It’s a rare move that suggests that a bigger judge panel may end up reversing the ruling.