Friday, April 25, 2008 | Reason : In the News | print version

Yoko Ono sues over use of John Lennon videos

by Yahoo News

Thanks to Chris Way for the link.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080424/entertainment/entertainment_music_beatles_video_copyright

Yoko Ono sues over use of John Lennon videos

NEW YORK (AFP) - Beatle John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono is suing two companies over the rights to videos of her late husband, one of which shows Lennon smoking marijuana, composing songs and wondering if he should drug Richard Nixon.

Ono's lawsuit against World Wide Video, a consortium of Beatles collectors who claim they bought the Lennon home video from Ono's first husband Anthony Cox, is due for a preliminary hearing in a Massachusetts district court on April 30, according to court documents.

World Wide Video has filed its own lawsuit claiming ownership of the video that it has titled "3 Days in the Life," billing it as "a most intimate and no-holds-barred" look at Lennon's private life with his family and friends.

The video, shot by Cox, includes images of Lennon smoking marijuana, speculating about lacing then-US president Richard Nixon's tea with LSD, and composing songs including "Remember" and "Mind Games."

"Our film allows a new generation to share with those who lived through those times, a deep and penetrating look at the many sides of the man who set new standards in art, music, fashion and politics," company executive producer Ray Thomas said in a statement.

In a separate lawsuit filed here in a Manhattan federal court, Ono claims Premise Media and Rocky Mountain Pictures used a video clip of Lennon singing "Imagine" without her approval.

The clip is included in "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," a documentary that questions Darwin's theory of evolution.

Ono maintains that the documentary's credits could mislead viewers about her having authorized Lennon's clip.

Premise Media and Rocky Mountain Pictures said in a statement that they only used "a very small portion of the song."

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1. Comment #168446 by will young on April 25, 2008 at 6:40 am

Good!

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2. Comment #168453 by liddlefeesh on April 25, 2008 at 6:48 am

Rocky Moutain Pictures are on a very rocky road with not obtaining permission for use of Yoko Ono's IPR.

Wasn't even Michael Shermer refused permission to quote from the song even for a book aligned with John Lennon's ethos?

Other Comments by liddlefeesh

3. Comment #168519 by j.mills on April 25, 2008 at 7:21 am

I wouldn't want to see Expelled stopped if they are within their rights; but if, as I hope and suspect, they're in breach of the law, then f*ck 'em! :)

Other Comments by j.mills

4. Comment #168530 by aflacgirl84 on April 25, 2008 at 7:28 am

good for her!

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5. Comment #168540 by mixmastergaz on April 25, 2008 at 7:37 am

I'm glad Yoko Ono is suing these liars for Yahweh.

Additionally, I can't help thinking that the stuff about John Lennon wondering if he should spike Nixon's tea is reported inaccurately here. I can imagine Lennon saying this as a joke, but I can't bring myself to believe he really intended to do it, whether or not he was smoking cannabis.
This reminds me of Hitchens' comment that the "literal mind cannot comprehend the ironic mind."

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6. Comment #168634 by Count von Count on April 25, 2008 at 8:45 am

Who ever thought I would be rooting for Yoko?

(I do however think it is a little ironic that a song that asks us to "Imagine no possessions" is being sued over. Maybe it's ok if it's against someone working against a "brotherhood of man" like Ben Stein.)

Go Yoko!

Other Comments by Count von Count

7. Comment #168635 by moderndaythomas on April 25, 2008 at 8:46 am

I gather that the righteous are confident in their immunity to infringe or impose for the greater good of thier ideals.
In this case, Lennon's Imagine.

I'm reminded of Cuozzo's cave art debacle in France, and when he recklessly trespassed on private property to reveal to the world the Neanderthal sculpture of a mammal in combat with a dinosaur.

This required some immagination in fact as it was a natural formation, if I'm not correct.

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8. Comment #168641 by Geodesic17 on April 25, 2008 at 8:50 am

The people behind this film are doing a great job of pissing everyone off (except for the Evangelical Christian Nationalists that they are targeting).

"Imagine there's no heaven."

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9. Comment #168661 by Frankus1122 on April 25, 2008 at 9:13 am

mixmastergaz

I have a PM for you.

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10. Comment #168680 by Lionel A on April 25, 2008 at 9:30 am

Premise Media and Rocky Mountain Pictures said in a statement that they only used "a very small portion of the song."

ROTFL. You just cannot make this stuff up can you.

Will that match "the very small portion of truth in Expelled".

It does not matter one jot how much of a clip, picture, song or quote you use if it breaks 'fair use' rules.

Take em' to the cleaners - after all the umbrella organizations pushing Expelled have deep pockets.

BTW Dont forget to visit:

http://sienceblogs.com/pharyngula/

and link to the poll at:

http://www.myspace.com/expelledthemovement

Sorry but cannot get links to work right now - cut and paste or go straight to Pharyngula from your Bookmarks/Favorites and see article

Crash this poll

Other Comments by Lionel A

11. Comment #168812 by PJG on April 25, 2008 at 11:20 am

Ah well, I'm sure this is all planned for under the "publicity to be gained from being shown to be crooks" part of the budget for the film.

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12. Comment #168884 by WilliamP on April 25, 2008 at 12:29 pm

Actually, Dawkins, Myers, Shermer, and others who appear in "Expelled" might be able to sue the film's makers if they want. As far as I've heard, these guys and others had contracts to appear in the movie, and it seems that the only reason they agreed to do the film was because of the lies that the producers told them about the movie's purpose. That could be the basis for a case of misrepresentation under either contract or tort law in the US. Of course, it depends on the circumstances, contract language, etc.

I'm sure they don't want to give the film anymore publicity than it has now. Although, if they wait until the movie is out of the spotlight, it might be worth it if they can make a case.

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13. Comment #168887 by ebugogo on April 25, 2008 at 12:30 pm

You go girl!

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14. Comment #168920 by jusdefacts on April 25, 2008 at 1:03 pm

Hi, I followed Lionel's link to the scumsuckers myspace. It's like a black hole of wilful ignorance.

However, the poll is overwhelmingly against them. 9000 plus as against only 600 or so. Seems like the saddoes who are "friends" can't use myspace polls.

The crawthumping triumphalism in the comments is hurl-inducing, however.

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15. Comment #169018 by robotaholic on April 25, 2008 at 2:13 pm

imagine all the money muahaha

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16. Comment #169249 by Border Collie on April 25, 2008 at 4:40 pm
I'm gonna go walk the dogs ...

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17. Comment #169254 by Grantaire of JC on April 25, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Well Yoko hasn't made the news in a while, so at least its for something important to us and her. Any one against Expelled is a friend of mine. This has the Godfather feel to it. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

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18. Comment #169272 by Bigorra on April 25, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Thank you, Yoko. John would be pleased. As much as he hated Nixon, to have his music used in support of Nixon's deluded ex-speechwriter would likely make him sick to his stomach. If we could only hear what John would have to say about all this mess...

"Sorry Ben, but Instant Karma's gonna get you."

Other Comments by Bigorra

19. Comment #169296 by darlets on April 25, 2008 at 6:19 pm
the poll is currently

~680 Yes
~38000 No

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20. Comment #169303 by MorituriMax on April 25, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I want Richard to do a new Imagine Shirt..

Imagine

[insert picture of Ben Stein in the corner with a dunce hat on and a sign around his neck: id10t]

A World Without Religion

Other Comments by MorituriMax

21. Comment #169387 by 42South on April 26, 2008 at 12:17 am
Hopefully closing italics.

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22. Comment #169416 by Partisan on April 26, 2008 at 3:38 am

*Titter*

Honestly, I always thought the IDiots were masters of spin, propoganda and surfing the judiciary; I can't believe they'd make such obvious mistakes.

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23. Comment #169478 by Lionel A on April 26, 2008 at 7:15 am

How much longer before they pull that poll over at:

http://www.myspace.com/expelledthemovement

Yes 802 0.34%

No (to ID in classroom) 235302 98.68%

Other Comments by Lionel A

24. Comment #169486 by Layla Nasreddin on April 26, 2008 at 7:33 am

"I'm sick to death of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocrites
All I want is the truth now
Just gimme some truth now."
--John Lennon, "Gimme Some Truth"

A more perfect description of the Expelled people could hardly be written...well, unless several intensifying profanities were inserted. ;)

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25. Comment #169497 by ericcolumba on April 26, 2008 at 7:55 am

Grantaire of JC

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

This is the kind of flawed logic that has seen many left wing people in Europe make alliances with rightwing Islamic Fascists.

Just thought I'd point that out.

Other Comments by ericcolumba

26. Comment #169845 by Shuggy on April 27, 2008 at 12:27 am

Comment #168680 by Lionel A on April 25, 2008

and link to the poll at:

http://www.myspace.com/expelledthemovement

It's currently running at

Yes [ID should be taught in schools]
854 votes (0.21%)
No
409659 votes (98.49%)
Not sure
175 votes (0.04%)
What is it?
5300 votes (1.27%)

You couldn't make that up, it's like a Zimbabwean election. My guess is some evil Darwinist has hacked the voting. Or else the whole page is a hoax.

Other Comments by Shuggy

27. Comment #169848 by gcujimmy on April 27, 2008 at 12:43 am

As a Beatles fan in my youth and half blaming Yoko for the break up of the Beatles it feels wierd to be cheering her on.
Go get em Yoko

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28. Comment #169957 by Lionel A on April 27, 2008 at 6:06 am

Shuggy:

You couldn't make that up, it's like a Zimbabwean election. My guess is some evil Darwinist has hacked the voting. Or else the whole page is a hoax.

I wonder when they will suddenly add a few thousand to the Yes vote and then stop the voting so that it looks like the Yes votes have it?

Other Comments by Lionel A

29. Comment #169959 by Geoff on April 27, 2008 at 6:21 am

Someone from pharyngula made up a script for automated repeat voting!

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30. Comment #169960 by steveroot on April 27, 2008 at 6:23 am

29. Comment #169959 by Geoff on April 27, 2008 at 6:21 am
Someone from pharyngula made up a script for automated repeat voting!

Hey, that's a Chicago thing!
("Vote early, vote often")
Ste5e

Other Comments by steveroot

31. Comment #169961 by Steve Zara on April 27, 2008 at 6:26 am

Comment #169959 by Geoff

That is pretty bad (I think). On the other hand, if someone can't be bothered to defend against such tactics.....

Other Comments by Steve Zara

32. Comment #169971 by Geoff on April 27, 2008 at 7:25 am

Maybe they're just praying for more "yes" votes, instead of doing something constructive about it?

Incidentally, there was a tactical switch to "what is it?" votes part way through, just to get that above the "yes".

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/04/crash_this_poll.php#comments

Scroll down to around comment #400 to read the ongoing story...

Other Comments by Geoff

33. Comment #170102 by hexhunter on April 27, 2008 at 11:31 am

I believe I also read on Wikipedia that The Killers were lied to about the premise of the film, whether they'll decide to sue or not though, I've no idea...

-Deus Ex Machina

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34. Comment #171089 by BW022 on April 28, 2008 at 9:59 am

Anyone notice that the ERV blogs are down?

Some of the best research and commentary on the Expelled lawsuits suddenly goes down? Article after article about the copyright issues, lawsuits, etc. just happens to go down now? Funny that Expelled is trying to argue that ideas are being surpressed by scientists.

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35. Comment #173539 by kelphis on April 30, 2008 at 8:57 pm

I cant believe this. Im actually on Yoko ono's side.

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36. Comment #174625 by appaZ on May 3, 2008 at 2:44 am

If he was alive, you could ask what they/he did for Julian and Sylvia with all their squillions of dollars.

PS - As Elvis ( Costello ) wrote - Was it a millionaire who said imagine no possions.

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