Well, even though Pelosi is getting let off the hook for violating the law, we in the Blogosphere are gaining a new ability: to re-broadcast C-SPAN video without fear of copyright violations.
C-SPAN alters copyright over Pelosi flap
WASHINGTON - It turns out that Republicans were right: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did violate C-SPAN's copyright by using its televised footage on her blog promoting Democrats.
Officials for the cable TV network that provides daily gavel-to-gavel coverage of House and Senate proceedings at first said the blog was in violation, then announced it wasn't. On Wednesday, they said that it was but that they're changing their policy so that it won't be in the future.
The new copyright policy will allow non-commercial Internet users to share and post C-SPAN video as long as they attribute it to the public service channel.
So, now Bloggers can use C-SPAN video. That can't be anything but good. C-SPAN's president belatedly pulling Pelosi's fat out of the fire actually did us a good turn for a change.
"Given our background and our history, an open approach is the most consistent with our mission," said Rob Kennedy, C-SPAN's president. "We are now saying under the new policy that that will be OK, for her or any blogger or citizen journalist" to post C-SPAN video online.
Good going C-SPAN. Even though it was a free pass for a lawbreaker, this turns out well for all.
One thing, though. Do you think C-SPAN would've given any Republican such a generous pass?
Well, maybe.
But likely?
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Do you think C-Span itself,
March 9, 2007 - 10:30 ET by sarcasmoDo you think C-Span itself, institutionally (not the show callers) is biased? I haven't seen it. Instead, I've seen them as more-fair than the "mainstream" media to my ideas, by a longshot. I believe Brian Lamb once worked in the Nixon administration.
JMR
I don't necessarily see them
March 9, 2007 - 10:34 ET by Warner Todd HustonI don't necessarily see them as "biased". But, somehow I'd imagine it'd be a bigger flap if a Republican had violated copyright law. Mostly, though, I am glad for C-SPAN's decision.
Probably reflecting our res
March 9, 2007 - 10:51 ET by sarcasmoProbably reflecting our respective partisan feelings, I'd expect a slap to the wrist in either "major" party's case for powerful politicians -- especially from C-Span, which is entirely beholden to them by definition. Also, for some reason it didn't happen in Iraq-war-2, but I found C-Span's coverage in Iraq-war-1 excellent.
I especially-liked the unfiltered press conferences with generals, where it became apparent that the journalists knew even-less about military stuff than ME -- footage the "mainstream" networks always edited-out for some reason. In fact, it may have been the wonderfully-unfiltered C-Span coverage which inspired the famous SNL spoof on that gaggle, IMO! :)
JMR
CSpan
March 9, 2007 - 11:22 ET by paulnashtnI actually think CSpan tries to be as fair & evenhanded as possible, but what would the dems & MSM have done with this story if the shoe was on the other foot
“I would remind you
that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind
you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.”
WTH - I agree a Republican wo
March 9, 2007 - 11:52 ET by Cape ConservativeWTH - I agree a Republican would never have gotten away with this. But what else is new???
However, the good Speaker may soon rue the day she enabled this decision to be made. Imagine what footage will soon be distributed via the various blogs :-) Maybe, just maybe, our congressional reps will begin to give that very important possibility some consideration as they make total a$$e$ of themselves at the podium.
C-SPAN
March 9, 2007 - 13:06 ET by bzrc08Years ago C-SPAN was unbiased and was a good place to hear the news that the lamestream media wouldn't cover. Then they hired some guy from CNN (can't remember his name) who changed the phone lines and guests so the left was over-represented. I haven't watched it since. Talk radio is the place for "real" news.
Who actually thought they wou
March 9, 2007 - 10:35 ET by BlazerWho actually thought they would take comrade Pelosi to task, denying her the right to post footage from Party television.
If I wanted more fair, accurate, and patriotic reporting than what our MSM has to offer, I'd just tune in to Al-Jazeera.
I agree that as best I can
March 9, 2007 - 11:23 ET by Ken ShepherdI agree that as best I can tell, CSPAN plays things as close to the middle as it can. Brian Lamb, especially. This might be more an issue of CSPAN worrying about continued access to House proceedings, which I imagine Pelosi could very easily restrict on a unilateral basis without any consultation from senior leadership of both parties. But at any rate, this is a good decision on CSPAN's part.
This seems like an attempt
March 9, 2007 - 12:43 ET by WhichWingThis seems like an attempt to find something to whine about. C-SPAN is as non-partisan as it gets. I think they realized their policy was outdated and moved to change it. If the violator had been Republican, I don't think it would of changed anything. Well maybe one thing. We wouldn't have this thread here now.
I don't think CSpan is overtl
March 9, 2007 - 13:20 ET by truth_missileI don't think CSpan is overtly biased, for example the recent guy who gave Jimmy Carter, the Socialist dictators best ally, a good talking to on his hatred and racism. CSpan rather than push an agenda, seems to be willing to let either point of view ramble on if they get through.
Hey! I want one of those m
March 9, 2007 - 13:31 ET by Tim the EnchanterHey! I want one of those masks like you got in the picture for next Halloween! Guaranteed to scare anybody!
What's with that picture? Is
March 9, 2007 - 14:03 ET by InsufficientContextWhat's with that picture? Is that Pelosi on "Meet The Press" after she discovered that one Depends just wasn't going to cover it?
I don't see how CSPAN can b
March 9, 2007 - 14:43 ET by wiwfI don't see how CSPAN can be biased. Given the downright boringness it has when you watch it, it looks like they're scrambling to anything that could be reported on (Ted kennedy's comb-over or something). To suggest that they have bias would be to suggest that there are competing "interesting" stories about our politicians. This isn't the case with CSPAN, it's just incredibly BORING (except for the SOTU, the only real thing I watch on cspan). I mean, all too often it's just a camera looking over the Floor as the politicians chat about the local sports team or whatever.
wiw,You learn what each and e
March 9, 2007 - 15:00 ET by bigtimerwiw,
You learn what each and every single vote, amendment, resolution, conference reports(some)... sometimes you are able to hear hearings that are important to each of us, they cover a lot, it is only boring to those who do not want to know how our laws are created that affect/effect each and every one of us, you also know how each Senator/Congressmen vote....it should be important to all of us.
As far as C-Span goes it started changing what they show and allow and the callers years ago, they now have a obvious phone bank most likely funded by Soros or his ilk, it started changing before it was Clinton's second term, they changed the lines, it has gone more biased IMO with what they chose to repeat, what they chose to show, ect. I have been watching C-Span since 1990 and regularly since about 92...it has changed since about 95 slowly but surely.
Unfortunately...it is maddening.
wiwf--cspan
March 9, 2007 - 15:11 ET by misterbillI am not qualified to judge CSPAN. As you said, it is boring. I always fall asleep within minutes, so I don't know if they are biased.
An ugly American is one who does not support his country.
she was goosed, oh, my!
March 9, 2007 - 15:07 ET by tumbler_2007YOUR NOSE IS COLD, Murtha ! Stop that; if ya don't quit it in half an hour, I'm getting upset with you!
BigT,Twas a little light-he
March 9, 2007 - 18:08 ET by wiwfBigT,
Twas a little light-heartedness. CSPAN has to be the most boring channel next to BET and Lifetime.
wiw, I agree if it is a Quor
March 9, 2007 - 18:14 ET by bigtimerwiw,
I agree if it is a Quorum call...
LOL!
All in the eye of the beholder...I don't watch it 24/7 ya know... just when I think it is something important that is going to be coming up.
To each their own.
I guess that preemtive call
March 9, 2007 - 22:33 ET by ferrarimanf355I guess that preemtive call for the whaaaahmbulance didn't work. Is this seriously the best you can come up with against. Speaker Pelosi? Okay, honest question: how many of you guys live in San Francisco, or have gone there on a vacation? Is this going to be like people who haven't played video games but base their opinion on them soley on Grand Theft Auto?
Uzumaki/Ayanami '08. Because a ninja and an Eva pilot can govern the nation better that what we have now...
Still posting and running, Ferretman?
March 9, 2007 - 22:44 ET by RJStill posting and running, Ferretman? Maybe you should use that ambulance to take you someplace where they can grow you a pair of cojones.