Anyone remember that article I wrote about Thunderstix for this site, which parodied The Diamondback? I got an email this week from the editor-in-chief of The Diamondback telling me to take it down:
The fake Diamondback story "Terps fans to get their ass beat at football game this Saturday" linked to your site includes illegal use of Diamondback copyright materials. You do not have my permission to use The Diamondback masthead or any other Diamondback materials in this manner. It could easily mislead readers to believe they are reading an actual Diamondback story. Please take this story off the internet immediately. Thank you.
Scott Goldstein
Editor In Chief
The Diamondback
Nice to know I'm rattling the establishment. I've since taken the page down, but Google has a cached version still up.
Update: That page was #3 on Google for a "thunderstix maryland" search.
Posted by Rick at November 19, 2003 04:57 PMPussy
Posted by: Blough at November 19, 2003 05:06 PMWho does the Diamondback think they are? Crappy little school newspaper. Yeah, I said it Mr. Goldstein...since you obviously read this or care about a bunch of idiots spoofing things on the internet. I challenge you to find one person who thought that article to be real coming from this website. Have you seen it? The current posts are about Family Guy, wrecking Mini's, Fo Shizzle, Beer Keg Mascots, traffic, and puppies. PUPPIES????
Rick you should have left it up. Or we should start making them on a daily basis. The Diamondcrap, presented by Terrapin Tables. COMING SOON!
Posted by: Pat at November 19, 2003 05:15 PMWell Rick - just to let you know - I have heard from a reliable source (they may not be a doctor or anything) -- but apparently they are in no way, shape, or form protected from any spoof whatsoever. Copyright law. You should e-mail DradleStein back and tell him to go fuck himself.
Posted by: Chad at November 19, 2003 11:41 PMSad as it is the DBack is in the right. Satire is uncategorically allowed; but using the exact masthead would be construed as imitation, and the implied intent would be for readers to believe it was the actual paper, not a satire.
You could change one little thing, and as long as it indicated concretely the page was both unofficial and intended to be humorous, it'd be allowed.
On the other hand, we could put up an article that says "Goldstein caught smoking pole in monstrous gay orgy where Goldstein smoked a LOT of pole." That'd be funny too.
Posted by: Chris at November 20, 2003 04:48 PM