Bogus copyright and trademark complaints have threatened all kinds of creative expression on the Internet. EFF's Hall Of Shame collects the worst of the worst.
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Time Warner Cable
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Gordon Klingenschmitt
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Knowledge Matters and Martin Penny
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Universal Music Group
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Church of Scientology
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Don Henley, Glenn Frey (members of The Eagles)
Other Honorees
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Crude Copyright Complaints To Silence an Oil Company Satire
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Diebold Tries to Wipe Out Discussion of E-Voting Flaws
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CBS News Censors McCain Ad During Heated Presidential Campaign
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Paranormalist Claims Three-Second Copyright in Attempt to Censor Critical Video
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Prince Tries to Bury "Dancing Baby" Clip
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Same-Sex Marriage Opponents Silence Critical YouTube Clip
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Music Publisher Silences Scores of Videos in Spat with YouTube
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Retailer Tries to Censor "Photoshop Disaster" Advertisement
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Diamond Conglomerate Attempts to Silence Critical Parody
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Music Publisher Tries to Muzzle Podcast Criticizing Akon
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Car Expo Attempts to Silence Community Protest
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Shock Jock Attacks Critics With Bogus Suit
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Real Estate Developers Censor Community Critic's Website
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Blogger and Pageant Operators Try to Block Advocacy Non-Profit Ad
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News Agency With Dubious Copyright Claim Threatens Removal
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NPR Forces Takedown of Political Ad Weeks Before Critical Vote
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The Raspberry Beret Lifetime Aggrievement Award
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Homeland Insecurity Through Bogus Takedowns
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Energy Company Rages Against Activist's Comedic Spoof
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Yahoo Tries to Hide Snoop Service Price List
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Dervaes Institute Claims Ownership of Phrase "Urban Homesteading"
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NBC Issues Takedown on Viral Obama Ad
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Music Publisher Claims Copyright on the Public Domain's "This Land is Your Land"
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The Most Litigious Dessert in America
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Broadcast Company Tries to Manipulate Copyright to Avoid Criticism
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Cowboy Group Tries to Censor Animal Welfare Nonprofit
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Ulrich Schwanitz - Penrose Triangle - 3D Design Takedown
Learn More
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Submit an Honoree
Do you know of a culprit who ought to be included in the Hall Of Shame? Send us an email! We can't promise to reply to all submissions, but we do want to hear from you. -
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No Downtime For Free Speech
Headquarters for all things related to EFF's work protecting free speech from bogus legal threats.