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Glenn Beck Loses Claim Against Creator of Crudely-Named, Anti-Beck Satirical Website

November 10, 2009 11:45 am ET by Karl Frisch

According to THR, Esq., "Fox News' Glenn Beck has lost a claim that a website... was registered in bad faith and in violation of his trademark rights."

The post further notes that the crudely-named website's creator, Isaac Eiland-Hall, "argued to WIPO that he registered the website as a satirical critique of Beck's conspiratorial politics."

WIPO, the World Intellectual Property Organization, is "dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest."

More from THR, Esq.:

WIPO's arbitration panel agreed that the website appeared "to be engaged in a parody of the style or methodology that (Eiland-Hall) appears genuinely to believe is employed by (Beck) in the provision of political commentary, and for that reason (Eiland-Hall) can be said to be making a political statement."

The domain name dispute resolution body added Eiland-Hall's speech was "strongly protected" under the First Amendment. Here's the decision.

Having won the case, Eiland-Hall rejoiced by giving the website domain to Beck with a thumb-in-the-nose letter:

It bears observing that by bringing the WIPO complaint, you took what was merely one small critique meme, in a seas of internet memes, and turned it into a super-meme. Then, in pressing forward (by not withdrawing the complaint and instead filing additional briefs), you turned the super-meme into an object lesson in First Amendment principles...

Rather than choosing to strive for excellence and civic contribution, you simply pander the fears and insecurities of your audience. And in the process, you do them, and us all, a great deal of harm.

Shame on you Mr. Beck...
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    • Author by IRONY 101 (November 10, 2009 12:06 pm ET)
      5  
      Glenn Beck STILL hasn't denied raping and murdering that poor, poor girl...and my red red phone still silently sits. ;>)
      Report Abuse
      • Author by ra-ra-raw (November 10, 2009 2:19 pm ET)
           
        There has been a anti-red red phone silently sitting for just over 69 days now, waiting for Beck to call and correct any untrue statements said about him.
        1990 Truth Hotline
        Report Abuse
      • Author by MaineiacMan (November 11, 2009 9:02 am ET)
          1
        Get over it. The owner of the rather crude website in question has said himself that the site is a "“satirical critique of Beck’s conspiratorial politics”. In other words, it isnt real. I guess based upon the court ruling I could create a satirical website using the same premise but replace Beck with Obama.....but I have more class than that.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by Daddy Love (November 11, 2009 3:21 pm ET)
             
          You are correct in your first statement. The Web site clearly states that it is satirical. Note their resoning:

          "Notice: This site is parody/satire. We assume Glenn Beck did not rape and murder a young girl in 1990, although we haven’t yet seen proof that he didn’t. But we think Glenn Beck definitely uses tactics like this to spread lies and misinformation."


          If you were to create your Obama site, what would you be satirizing? IMHO, it is more your obliviousness to the concept of satire than your "class" that would lead you to pass on creating such as site.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by Midnight Kevin (November 10, 2009 12:06 pm ET)
      6  
      Maybe Glen Beck could learn a little bit if he read the constitution...

      ---------------------------
      The Midnight Review
      Mum Is The Word
      Report Abuse
      • Author by eekeller (November 10, 2009 12:14 pm ET)
        6  
        That assumes he would understand what he is reading; and from what he has shown us so far, I have little faith in him. I do have a strange sense of pity for him. I think it is because he is pitiful looking.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by historygeek001 (November 10, 2009 1:47 pm ET)
        3  
        He can read???
        Report Abuse
    • Author by dencal263474 (November 10, 2009 12:09 pm ET)
        2
      Its funny but if you scan most articles on Media Matters they appear to be Anti Fox News articles. Does this tell you something? That the rest of media is left wing just as the right claims.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by News Corpse (November 10, 2009 12:14 pm ET)
      9  
      Glenn Beck also has not denied that he idolizes Adolf Hitler as he admits in this video.

      I have pleaded with him to call me and set the record straight, but he has not done so. That is clear evidence of his guilt.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by IRONY 101 (November 10, 2009 12:51 pm ET)
        2  
        That is absolutely SHOCKING!!!

        Wake up, America...! Glenn Beck idolizes Hitler for killing 6 million Jews!
        Report Abuse
        • Author by porkisbad (November 11, 2009 12:55 am ET)
             
          lol. Are you joking? hahaha... if you base opinion on 10 second clips something is wrong. Download the full clip or at least understand the context of what you are reading or watching. hahaha... just some simple advice. hahaha... I sincerely hope you are joking. If so very funny.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by epkklk851 (November 10, 2009 12:15 pm ET)
      5  
      Hey, the settlement talks about a universal remote control to turn off TV's playing Fox news! Whoo Hoo! I need to get one of those!
      Report Abuse
    • Author by The_Cat (November 10, 2009 12:16 pm ET)
      6  
      So, you want special treatment, Mr. Beck? You want to be able to lie at will publicly about others, but if someone says something untruthful about you, then you bring in attorneys? Sad, Mr. Beck, sad and pathetic. But hardly surprising.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by rwmacdonald2091 (November 10, 2009 12:25 pm ET)
        5  
        You want to be able to lie at will publicly about others, but if someone says something untruthful about you, then you bring in attorneys?

        Ut oh, Beck hired an attorney, I thought it was a right wing mantra that it's the attorneys that cause all the problems, well except the one caused by Obama.

        Report Abuse
        • Author by Don Hussein Fabuloso (November 10, 2009 12:47 pm ET)
          4  
          It depends who the attorneys are representing, rw.

          At first glance, sure, this looks like Beck is promoting Political Correctness, Anti-Constitutionalism, those nasty Trial Lawyers, attacks on the First Amendment, and frivolous lawsuits.

          If it was somebody on the left taking Beck's actions, those would all be true.

          But Glen loves his country (*sob*) and just cares so much (*sniffle*) that it's completely different. His thin-skinned, litigious reaction is done in the name of Freedom. If you can't see the difference, maybe you don't really love America.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by MidnightWriter (November 10, 2009 12:25 pm ET)
      11  
      Fox News has declared this a Teabagger victory and promises it means problems for Obama in 2010.
      Report Abuse

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  • County Fair is a media blog featuring links to progressive media criticism from around the Web as well as original commentary, breaking news and rapid response updates to major media events from Media Matters senior fellows and other staff.