# Yay! Gizmodo blogged me! And then they took down my video. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 18, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550 "2010-10-18T14:49:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/1 "2010-10-18T14:49:25Z")
Yeah, I know, the Dope isn’t the place for legal advice. This shouldn’t be too serious, though. Some time ago, I made a [bridging vehicle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZEU1fZPD9A) using Lego bricks. Gizmodo blogged it, and it got me over a quarter million views. When that happened, I got a mail from Youtube’s advertising department, saying I now qualify for placing ads on my videos. Woot. A week ago, I finished [this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOuP_w0FZi0). Sure enough, [Gizmodo picks it up](http://gizmodo.com/5666287/lego-for-the-love-of-the-brick-gods-make-this-rc-tank). However, this time they replace my embedded Youtube video with their own copy. So, no ad income for me. (Not really a big deal. After three months, I hardly made over thirty bucks) However, it still miffs me that they took my intellectual property and ran with it. I’ve mailed the author for clarification, but I doubt he’ll find my message between all the spam he propably gets. Any words or advice from the teeming masses? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/2 "2010-10-18T15:00:07Z")
> [@MostlyClueless](#): > > Some time ago, I made a [bridging vehicle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZEU1fZPD9A) using Lego bricks. Cool! Sorry, no legal (or otherwise) advice to offer. But still, wicked cool. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/3 "2010-10-18T16:38:58Z")
Hey, that was you? Awesome! Ooh, and you’re Metal Grudge? Hey, love the wheels. Got some good drifting examples? Ever think of making it a bit more Bonaparte and giving it active suspension? ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/4 "2010-10-18T16:50:44Z")
I once made a wall… and later a tower. Nobody flocked to see my videos. Seriously… cool stuff. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/5 "2010-10-18T17:36:17Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Hey, that was you? Awesome! Ooh, and you’re Metal Grudge? Hey, love the wheels. Got some good drifting examples? Ever think of making it a bit more Bonaparte and giving it active suspension? (Thanks for the nice comments!) Drifting examples? With Lego, you’re either limited to [omniwheels](http://www.flickr.com/photos/28134808@N02/5083236719/) or hard plastic wheels. You need speed for some proper slippage, and it’s quite hard to get speed out of Lego’s electric components. In the end it took two XL motors, giving them one receiver each. (Receivers are limited, so putting two motors on one receiver halves their power) Active suspension would be great indeed. One of my fellow clubmembers [already has a nice mockup](http://www.flickr.com/photos/50191917@N06/4981054724/) and it works excellently. And yes, both Metal Slug and [Bonaparte](http://www.google.nl/images?hl=nl&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=GxE&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&channel=s&q=bonaparte+tank&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1366&bih=554) were an inspiration. Worked out quit nicely, the smaller the vehicle, the faster it goes. Maybe I’ll make the next one a bit more Bonapart-y. It seems the video issue was caused because my videos are blocked in Germany. Apparently, Youtube has blocked all video’s with music until they can reach an agreement with German record companies. I’ve proposed that they embed the youtube video again, with a link to a mirrored version should people have difficulties. So far, the Gizmodo folks have handled my emails very professionally. ---
**Author:** ![Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fried_Dough_Ho)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/6 "2010-10-18T17:51:37Z")
Wait, Gizmodo DID give you credit in their copy, right? They just changed the linkage of where the video exists so you aren’t getting your own affiliate revenue? Sucks, yes – but I’m not sure there is any intellectual property being abused. I’m not a lawyer, but it isn’t like they posted the video without citing its author, correct? BTW - loved the Thunderbirds theme in the first one! ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/7 "2010-10-18T18:53:44Z")
I’d say f they copied the Youtube video and are hosting it on his siet they definitely stole some intellectual property, unless the licensing terms are such that this sort of thing is to be expected from Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/8 "2010-10-18T19:37:52Z")
Yeah, I noticed the omniwheels on the tank, which is why I was asking about drifting. Of course, the other question involves getting the turret to fire. So, how’d you do the camera cars? Two people doing RC, or preprogrammed? ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/9 "2010-10-18T19:57:30Z")
The camera car is very simple. It has a speed regulator, and a ‘go/stop’ button. Luckily I was able to film in a parking garage, which gave me plenty of space to drive around. Having a second person to pilot the camera car would’ve been even better, but as I’m a perfectionist I’d rather do things myself. I don’t have the guts to ask someone after the fourth take ‘I don’t really think we got it right, wanna give it another go?’ Recording this took a full afternoon\*, and I don’t know if someone else’d be as entertained with it as I was. \*Yup, for one minute and eight seconds of footage. I’ve been considering adding a cannon, but I think it’ll have to wait for another model. This model was built for speed, so I stripped out everything not absolutely necessary. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/10 "2010-10-18T23:22:16Z")
I figure you could do a pseudocannon with a rubber band, a small ball, and something to hold tension till you drift sideways hard enough the g-forces shift it. Not much weight. But it’s more a stylistic point than anything. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/11 "2010-10-18T23:52:31Z")
> [@Fried\_Dough\_Ho](#): > > Sucks, yes – but I’m not sure there is any intellectual property being abused. I’m not a lawyer, but it isn’t like they posted the video without citing its author, correct? Wrong. Making a copy without the copyright holder’s permission is a violation of copyright. Putting it on another site = making a copy. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/12 "2010-10-19T00:12:54Z")
Gizmodo’s run by a huge bag of cocks, so this is hardly surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-gizmodo-blogged-me-and-then-they-took-down-my-video/557550/13 "2010-10-19T01:35:23Z")
You dont get to copy something for free just because its inconvenient in its current form. They dont have a great track record, they’re the ones who bought the stolen Iphone arent they? Otara