# Chris Hadfiled's "Space Oddity" going dark **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 13, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385 "2014-05-13T23:20:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/1 "2014-05-13T23:20:59Z")
Watch it while you can: [http://sourcefed.com/watch-chris-hadfields-space-oddity-for-the-last-time/](http://sourcefed.com/watch-chris-hadfields-space-oddity-for-the-last-time/) I’m sure there will be “backups”, but the official video is going away Brian ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/2 "2014-05-13T23:33:02Z")
Why would he have to take the video down? Presumably he owns the copyright on the video since he made it himself (or else the government owns it and therefore it’s public domain), and the rights to the music should be covered as long as he’s paying the licensing fee to ASCAP/BMI. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/3 "2014-05-13T23:57:40Z")
A one year license. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/4 "2014-05-14T00:30:27Z")
That is so much fun to watch! It’s odd that it seemed sort of ‘blah’ then my brain kicked in and said–‘That’s not effects, dummy! That’s real!’ ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/5 "2014-05-14T00:59:32Z")
Thank you N9IWP. Freaking brilliant. Anyone know if this ever aired on TV? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/6 "2014-05-14T03:07:50Z")
And today this headline.[Russia to ban US from using Space Station over Ukraine sanctions.](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/10828964/Russia-to-ban-US-from-using-Space-Station-over-Ukraine-sanctions.html) How far we have not come… ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/7 "2014-05-14T03:23:55Z")
That video is amazing. It ought to be up on all the major streaming services, for sale on iTunes and the NFB and the CBC, pressed up on DVD for the Ultra-HD crowd… ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/8 "2014-05-14T03:46:50Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > (or else the government owns it and therefore it’s public domain) If the government owns copyright, that doesn’t automatically make it public domain. Like any other holder of copyright, the Crown can decide what uses it will permit of its copyrighted material. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/9 "2014-05-14T04:09:08Z")
Its gone. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/10 "2014-05-14T04:11:57Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Why would he have to take the video down? Presumably he owns the copyright on the video since he made it himself (or else the government owns it and therefore it’s public domain), and the rights to the music should be covered as long as he’s paying the licensing fee to ASCAP/BMI. I don’t think Canadian government stuff is public domain. But there’s no reason the government couldn’t have made a licensing and distribution deal… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/11 "2014-05-14T05:17:46Z")
Can’t wait 'till Commander Chris Hadfield goes to Mars. (Another U tube hit.) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/12 "2014-05-14T08:07:21Z")
The accompanying blurb specifically said the rights issue was for the song, not the performance. So whether or not the gov’t owns the performance isn’t an issue. Apparently they just got permission to use the song for one year. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/13 "2014-05-14T10:48:38Z")
Yes, it is the rights from Bowie. Perhaps Hadfield didn’t want to pay the mechanical rights for the cover. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/14 "2014-05-14T15:04:35Z")
The lyrics were changed substantially. That’s not covered by a [compulsory license](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/115). [QUOTE=17 U.S. Code § 115] … but the arrangement shall not change the basic melody or fundamental character of the work, [/QUOTE] And because it’s a video, a [sync license](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synchronization_rights) would be needed, which requires negotiation with the copyright holder. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/15 "2014-05-14T18:30:38Z")
> **[Ground control to Major Tom: Commencing Bowie video takedown](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/05/ground-control-to-major-tom-commencing-bowie-video-takedown/)** > > Copyright forces astronaut to remove Bowie cover filmed aboard Space Station. [QUOTE=Hadfield] It has been a year since my son and I created and released the Space Oddity video. We have been amazed and delighted that so many people enjoyed it—and maybe saw what spaceflight can really be like. It helped show that humans have left Earth, and that the Space Station is a new stage, for not just science and exploration, but for our art and music too. With exploration comes insight—with perspective comes self-realization. We had permission from David Bowie’s people to post the video on YouTube for a year, and that year is up. We are working on renewing the license for it, but as there are no guarantees when it comes to videos shot in space, we thought you might want to have one last look before we take it down. Thanks for everything. You’ve all been incredible throughout. [/QUOTE] Brian ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/16 "2014-05-14T19:28:48Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > Yes, it is the rights from Bowie. Perhaps Hadfield didn’t want to pay the mechanical rights for the cover. > > Brian Crowdfund the licensing fee for another year? Or just ask David directly if he’s willing to have his people let it continue without a fee. Seems like they’re mutual promotions. –G! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2014, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/17 "2014-05-15T02:07:01Z")
```php ``` > [@Little\_Pig](#): > > Its gone. ☹ Gone from that site. Not gone from YouTube. I suppose because other people have uploaded copies. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/18 "2014-05-16T18:48:21Z")
If anyone comes across it again, please post the URL here. Thx. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/19 "2014-08-01T14:07:32Z")
Its back on-line: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_RB1ENTayU) ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chris-hadfileds-space-oddity-going-dark/688385/20 "2014-08-01T14:31:36Z")
Clown control to Mao tse-Tung…