Canucks & Beyond
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The NHL Bites Back?
by Alanah McGinley on 10/26/07 at 02:50 PM ET
Comments (4)
[Updated below, with a response from the NHL.]
I happened upon something interesting last night: Madison Square Garden’s Youtube account, MSG Online, has been suspended. And from what I can tell, no videos have been posted to that account for about a week or so prior to this suspension.
It’s hard to say what’s going on—and my requests for an explanation from both MSG and the NHL have yet to provide an explanation—but it’s a curious situation.
First of all, an account suspension is how Youtube has previously responded when a copyright holder has erected a challenge to the content carried by one of its members. And secondly, the NHL itself has enforced their copyright claims with Youtube in the past.
So it makes me wonder: did the NHL claim a copyright violation by MSG and the New York Rangers, and request Youtube suspend their account?
If so, it would be an extraordinary step to have taken. Not to mention, by taking down the MSG site, it’s not just the NYR’s content which is affected but the general MSG account, including that posted there by the NBA’s NY Knicks.
As a recent story in the New York Times notes, the NHL’s “owners voted, 25 to 3, to approve the transfer of all 30 teams’ digital rights to the league last year. The Rangers didn’t vote for it, and have battled the vote ever since.” Digital ownership rights are a major issue of contention here.
But perhaps this Youtube suspension has nothing to do with the NHL? Maybe this is all just a strange coincidence?
I suppose that’s possible… we’ll just have to wait and see.
Update 2:14pm PT:
The NHL’s senior vice president for communications Bernadette Mansur has kindly responded to my inquiry from earlier today with this statement. “The NHL has no involvement in, or knowledge of, this situation.”
Still no response from MSG explaining what actually is the cause of their account suspension, but it would appear my own speculation was innaccurate.
Filed in: nhl general | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: msg, new+york+rangers, youtube,
Comments
Hmmm...good find, Alanah. I’m thinkin’ the response from the NHL is complete BS.
Posted by Josh on 10/27/07 at 12:42 PM ET
Josh, I do believe you may be wrong on that statement.
If the NHL did not respond, then it would have been a question that would have been left open, but their response is appreciated and reflects their position on this topic.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 10/27/07 at 07:38 PM ET
Kinda like how the agent for Jonathan Tavares claimed to know nothing about discussions with the Leafs...only to admit later on he did?
It’s really not that big of a deal, I’m just saying I don’t take anyone’s word at face value, especially when lawsuits are involved.
Posted by Josh on 10/27/07 at 11:24 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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Its okay though, check out MSG’s Game On! blog, they have their own system for youtube-like videos, and they still appear to be working.
Posted by bcrt on 10/26/07 at 02:52 PM ET