City loses copyright suit to critic who posted clips of council to YouTube

On Thursday, August 20, a federal judge found that the YouTube videos using clips of Inglewood City Council meetings did not violate copyright law, and dismissed the suit the city filed against the video's creator.

In his decision, Judge Michael Fitzgerald rejected the city's argument that the videos created by Inglewood critic Joseph Teixeira violated any of the city's copyrights, pointing out that California law prevents cities from claiming ownership of city council videos. 

And even if the city could hold a copyright on those meetings, Judge Fitzgerald argued that Teixeira's videos were fair use according to legal provisions that allow copyright material to be used for criticism, news reporting and teaching without permission.

Many lawyers have described the lawsuit as a blatant attempt to censor Teixeira, whose videos attacked both Inglewood and its mayor, James T. Butts Jr., over several policies and actions. 

Judge Fitzgerald granted Teixeira's motion to dismiss, meaning the city is unable to re-file the case.

Teixeira first made his videos after teaching himself how to upload and edit film to iMovie. He wound up adding both text and narration criticizing city policies, and distributed his work for free on DVD. After he posted his work to YouTube, the city filed a lawsuit, claiming he caused it "irreparable harm and damages."

If you are in the middle of a copyright dispute, or if you think someone else is profiting from your own work, it is important to speak with a skilled business attorney. A lawyer can help protect your rights in case of litigation.

Categorised in: Intellectual Property Law

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