a clubs experience with USATF - USATF made us take down Club XC highlight video due to copyright claims

readersETC wrote:

seems like the chick who wrote this has too much time on her hands and is trying to stir a pot that doesn't need help from some random club team.

USATF removing videos from YouTube is nothing new. This club needed to not post something for the public and made it just for them and they probably would not have run into issues. USATF must protect their IP. What's the issue here?

Judging from your inability to put together a coherent sentence, you must be on the board of USATF. What a bunch of nitwits.

readersETC wrote:

seems like the chick who wrote this has too much time on her hands and is trying to stir a pot that doesn't need help from some random club team.

USATF removing videos from YouTube is nothing new. This club needed to not post something for the public and made it just for them and they probably would not have run into issues. USATF must protect their IP. What's the issue here?

Judging from your inability to put together a coherent sentence, you must be on the board of USATF. What a bunch of nitwits.[/quote]

My thoughts exactly! ReadersETC probably didn't even read the article and clearly does not have the intellectual capacity to understand it! USATF should be ashamed for stifling the growth of a small club.

We need a racing federation that ENCOURAGES posting vidz of events online, and making racing FUN. Jesus, don't they want to bring people into the sport? Way to smack people down for what they enjoy.

This is laughable. USATF is seriously threatening legal action against people for filming their races? What a great use of membership dues.

The viewing figures (official) for the Boston Indoor Games were a 0.1 - that is less than 200,000 people watching. They don't need to protect their rights to broadcast exclusively, they need thousands of people to post stuff that raises the profile of the sport.

Total insanity. They will be telling people to take down videos on Facebook next.

Anyone care to guess which USATF bozo is using the name 'readersETC'?

Blog post....

tl;dr

Ahhh, but they did get the results out in a timely fashion.

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?board=1&id=6176936&thread=6176893#6176936

Oh, wait...

Stiff Me With Your High wrote:

Ahhh, but they did get the results out in a timely fashion.

Oh, wait...

To be fair, it looks like they were consistent and took two months to take action on this video.

Don't complain about USATF. Remember, they are diverse.

Are blog posts and facebook pictures next?

Those girls singing in the car though.... I'd join that team.

Post of the....month? well played there sir/miss, right on form usatf! andrew bumbalough would be proud.quote]USA(W)TF wrote:

Stiff Me With Your High wrote:

Ahhh, but they did get the results out in a timely fashion.

Oh, wait...

To be fair, it looks like they were consistent and took two months to take action on this video.[/quote]

a clubs experience with USATF

http://levelrenner.com/2015/02/20/cease-and-desist-one-clubs-ordeal-with-usatf/

I posted this in another thread that discusses whether a meet can even request on copyright grounds for a fan video to be removed. A fan video is not copying anything. It is an original work. That thread is here:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6326404

USATF clearly doesn't get it.

As a policy matter, USATF is incredibly short sighted to stop it member clubs from making the video. It is great for the sport for clubs to be promoting the sport. There is no commercial value to USATF being lost from the video.

From a legal standpoint, being aware of this thread

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6326404

I'm pretty sure it's not copyright infringement.

What did the club copy that USTAF owned? Nothing.

Now if the club signed something saying they wouldn't make video (I don't see any reference to that) that would be a breach of contract claim right? If there was some sort of waiver assigning USATF the copyright to anything shot at the race, then conceivably you all are saying there might be a copyright claim, but that is unsettled?

Now what USATF doesn't want clubs to do is say shoot top finishing video of USATF Outdoor nationals but that is a completely different thing. (We won't even get into the point that many of you are saying that would not be a copyright violation but a breach of contract).

Very short sighted direction at USATF.

***

I'm going to add a few points. Take a look at the SuperBowl for example. This fan video of the game winning interception has 2 million views and is still up on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgloErF-H2c

This video which copied the tv broadcast of the same interception has been removed on copyright grounds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jegTOQjbdCw

Now that could be because the video matching system would automatically catch the second, and not the first. However, no doubt the NFL has tons of trademark lawyers on the prowl who are eager to assert the league's rights and they may realize that #1 is not copyright infringement. It may violate some terms on the ticket but it's not copyright infringement.

As a long time USATF member and someone who has been involved with the organization, let me say that this story is very sad to read. I simply cannot understand why USATF would take issue with this. Not only are they outright incorrect legally, worse, they no doubt KNOW they are in the wrong. They simply mean to hoodwink this club (and YouTube) into thinking falling for bluster. This is merely bluster, petty bullying and bluster. It serves to further disenchant the very fan base they should be thankful for having. Shame on you USATF--SHAME.

Haji wrote:

Don't complain about USATF. Remember, they are diverse.

Spin off the Professional part of the membership and let the rank and file take all the selfies they want. Just tell them they can't take pictures of the pros and let the grandkids can see Aunt Betty and Uncle Joe having fun while they stay fit.

Oh wait that's not new era thinking...

Haji wrote:

Don't complain about USATF. Remember, they are diverse.

"seems like the chick who wrote this has too much time on her hands"

OR

She is a dedicated club volunteer. The sport of T&F needs more people like her.

mxcrunner wrote:

a clubs experience with USATF

http://levelrenner.com/2015/02/20/cease-and-desist-one-clubs-ordeal-with-usatf/

What USATF doesn't get is they should be encouraging videos like this because it promotes the sport and makes USATF Club Nationals look like fun (thus attracting potentially more members and clubs). Then again, membership is only 5.25% of their revenue, while sponsorships makes up 71%, so we know where their interest lies.

This situation is ridiculous. USATF is killing the sport in their efforts to protect their brand. I plan to write more about this soon.

It is concerning that they are allocating so much of their time to removing videos shot at their events. Remove videos that are illegally reproducing your footage, sure. Remove videos fans shot of events that were broadcast on TV, well, understandable, as long as you are posting those videos yourself at some point.

Remove videos one of YOUR clubs shot of their very recreational runners having fun at YOUR event? An event that was not broadcast live, and whose athletes did not even appear in the videos that you posted? An event that didn't even get its own press release after the event? Just a brief mention in the News and Notes almost a week later?

YOU barely promoted the event. Barely acknowledged it happened. You have staff resources to take down videos all day long, but you don't have the resources to give the largest open cross country race in USATF history its own press release?! Is this really the best allocation of resources.

Stop trying to hurt people who are promoting the sport, promoting your clubs and your events. This video did not harm the USATF brand, it did nothing but enhance it!