Phelps responded Friday in a letter to the Sony saying the video is a parody and not covered by copyright laws.

Fred Phelps is a parody.

Diogenes: Fred Phelps is a parody.

a sick twisted parody of a human being.

This is one case where Phelps is right. Parodies are not covered by copyright. Otherwise, we'd have no Weird Al.

Unfortunately, Phelps isn't breaking any copyright laws. He still deserves a cockpunch, though.

Don't make me defend Phelps, but if his song IS a parody, then Sony is working for evil, once again.

This is a case where they have to sue him to protect their rights.

If they didn't take any action now, and decided to say something about it later, the court would see their initial inaction as permission because if Sony didn't like it, they should have said something.

Fred Phelps needs to crawl under a rock and die.

RoyBatty: Don't make me defend Phelps, but if his song IS a parody, then Sony is working for evil, once again.

Sadly, you are correct. Goddamnit, I wanted to enjoy this.

it's only defended if there's enough of the origional song used to recall the spirit of the material parodied. If phelps used more than was necessary for that end then he is indeed infringing on copyright. This destinction is at the discression of the judge so there's really no definant outcome.

So he won't mind if people parody him for halloween or any other occasion.

Your sign says 'God hates bags' and instead you carry a bucket for your candy. Your friends go as patriot guards etc.

This is yet another example of certain elements in our society trying to repress free speech and religious beliefs. Why can't people just leave the Phelps alone and let them do their thing?

Even if Sony is in the legal wrong here, it will still cause the Phelps machine to have to waste a bit of time and money in court, right? And surely that's a good thing.

another girl: Even if Sony is in the legal wrong here, it will still cause the Phelps machine to have to waste a bit of time and money in court, right? And surely that's a good thing.

Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Song parodies are protected free speech, but you just can't change a few words and label a copyrighted song as a parody. I'm pretty sure the do's and don'ts are pretty well established in case law by now.

======================================================

BTW, how is the Phelps clan getting along these days?

I understand they are being forced to give up their church/house compound in Westboro after losing their last court case. What's the status of that?

Buying the church and converting it to a gay night club would be soooooo cool.


_{/And I don't mean the classy "maybe they are, maybe they're not" gay guys, I mean those big "Oh my God, here they come, floatin' around, makin' noise" gay guys, not the fix up your house gay guys.}

NautatrolRx: Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.


The Phelpses seem to think so.

Because People in power are Stupid: This is one case where Phelps is right. Parodies are not covered by copyright. Otherwise, we'd have no Weird Al.

Doesn't Weird Al have to get permission nowadays to make a parody?

NautatrolRx
This is yet another example of certain elements in our society trying to repress free speech and religious beliefs. Why can't people just leave the Phelps alone and let them do their thing?

Because they're inciting hate speech which is a grey area of free speech. Essentially, opposing them is supporting the rights of homosexuals and america seems to be heading in a direction that identifies equal rights for gays.

/that's why.

Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

DonPeyote: NautatrolRx
This is yet another example of certain elements in our society trying to repress free speech and religious beliefs. Why can't people just leave the Phelps alone and let them do their thing?

Because they're inciting hate speech which is a grey area of free speech. Essentially, opposing them is supporting the rights of homosexuals and america seems to be heading in a direction that identifies equal rights for gays.

/that's why.

And then someone decides that criticizing politicians is a "grey area" because it doesn't "support our troops." Are you seeing the flaws yet, or is your unmitigated hatred for everything different from you getting in the way?

Petorian Guard: NautatrolRx: Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.


The Phelpses seem to think so.

They're expressing their opinion, yet they fully support your freedom to express yours. That's the difference between most of the people in this thread and them.

NautatrolRx: This is yet another example of certain elements in our society trying to repress free speech and religious beliefs. Why can't people just leave the Phelps alone and let them do their thing?

It's troll-bait, but there's a simple answer - when the Phelps can do the very same thing for others, I'm fairly certain the favor will be returned.

I mean, who pickets the Amish?

NautatrolRx: Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

Well, Phelps' beliefs include harassment of minorities and their beliefs. So I guess it cancels out.

V2487: Because People in power are Stupid: This is one case where Phelps is right. Parodies are not covered by copyright. Otherwise, we'd have no Weird Al.

Doesn't Weird Al have to get permission nowadays to make a parody?

Nope, but he has also sought the permissions anyways, hence no prince parodies.

NautatrolRx: Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

I call troll.

I'll go with Voltaire on this one. Though I don't agree with [any of] what they say, I shall defend to the death their right to say it.

/God hates the WBC

NautatrolRx: another girl: Even if Sony is in the legal wrong here, it will still cause the Phelps machine to have to waste a bit of time and money in court, right? And surely that's a good thing.

Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

Stupid troll is stupid. Rapists are a "minority" by your definition. A proper definition involves social devaluation/ect, like blacks/jews/irish/gays/actual minorities have faced...often persecuted by asshats like Phelps.
He's also abusing the definition of a "church" for a purely political aspect-and, while that makes him a "minority" in your retarded definition, it's disgusting and potentially illegal.

I'd say eat a bowl of dicks, but then Phelps would come bring his gay-bashing protesters to my campus

NautatrolRx: Petorian Guard: NautatrolRx: Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.


The Phelpses seem to think so.

They're expressing their opinion, yet they fully support your freedom to express yours. That's the difference between most of the people in this thread and them.

They can publish as many books and webistes as they want, where it becomes a problem is when they start trampling on the rights of families to mourn their loved ones in Peace. Stopping them from protesting at funerals is not the same as preventing them from expressing their opinions.

Bertsura: NautatrolRx: Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

Well, Phelps' beliefs include harassment of minorities and their beliefs. So I guess it cancels out.

They hold up signs. They express their views. How is that harassment? Because certain people don't want a message that opposes their own to get out?

Reminds me of how the democrats run their presidential campaigns.

I wouldn't be pissed if the government went all Waco on Phelps.

V2487: Because People in power are Stupid: This is one case where Phelps is right. Parodies are not covered by copyright. Otherwise, we'd have no Weird Al.

Doesn't Weird Al have to get permission nowadays to make a parody?

Weird Al is classy. He DOES not need to get permission but always does. He has a career that has streteched because of this. I know if weird al ever parioded me I would feel that I made it.

SilentStrider: Diogenes: Fred Phelps is a parody.a sick twisted, litigious, attention-whoring parody of a human being.

FTFY

NautatrolRx
Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

mild scene from 08 republic convention.

That's a disagreement, Phelps represents an insult to basic human rights.

NautatrolRx: Bertsura: NautatrolRx: Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

Well, Phelps' beliefs include harassment of minorities and their beliefs. So I guess it cancels out.

They hold up signs. They express their views. How is that harassment? Because certain people don't want a message that opposes their own to get out?

Reminds me of how the democrats run their presidential campaigns.

You'll get over it.

Heist: Unfortunately, Phelps isn't breaking any copyright laws. He still deserves a cockpunch, though.

Seriously. A cockpunch is reserved only for very special, and also very rare circumstances. But this assclown? Right in the balls. It's as though his every action is prefaced by, "You'll want to get brass knuckles and then punch my cock. It's OK, I'll wait."

Paris1127: I'll go with Voltaire on this one. Though I don't agree with [any of] what they say, I shall defend to the death their right to say it.

/God hates the WBC

This is exactly what I'm saying.

All the others in this thread should take a look at themselves. Hypocrits.

DonPeyote: NautatrolRx
Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

mild scene from 08 republic convention.

That's a disagreement, Phelps represents an insult to basic human rights.

Because he has a different message than yours? You are an insult to basic human rights.

Phelps doesn't run around punching people. It's the people who hate his message that run up and punch him. He just stands there with his sign.

They've even moved him back so that he's not interrupting services.

come on - i detest the man, but this is not the right thing.

chilling effect, man, chilling effect.

Suing Westboro is the best way to get rid of these ass clowns. However, Sony probably won't win since they are parodies and probably not turning a profit (I hope).

Sony and pretty much everyone else should sue Westboro for defamation and emotional damage. Juries eat that up and award ridiculous amounts of money for it.

Barakku: NautatrolRx: another girl: Even if Sony is in the legal wrong here, it will still cause the Phelps machine to have to waste a bit of time and money in court, right? And surely that's a good thing.

Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

Stupid troll is stupid. Rapists are a "minority" by your definition. A proper definition involves social devaluation/ect, like blacks/jews/irish/gays/actual minorities have faced...often persecuted by asshats like Phelps.
He's also abusing the definition of a "church" for a purely political aspect-and, while that makes him a "minority" in your retarded definition, it's disgusting and potentially illegal.

I'd say eat a bowl of dicks, but then Phelps would come bring his gay-bashing protesters to my campus

Says the well-known troll. Give it up. You're not even funny.

Free Speech: being able to say what you want without fear of government reprisal.

Free speech is NOT free ACTION. It does not give you the right to DO anything you want (especially TO OTHER PEOPLE) without the fear of government reprisal.

NautatrolRx: Paris1127: I'll go with Voltaire on this one. Though I don't agree with [any of] what they say, I shall defend to the death their right to say it.

/God hates the WBC

This is exactly what I'm saying.

All the others in this thread should take a look at themselves. HypocritsHypocrites.

FTFY
/I shall defend to the death a person's right to say/write what they want.
//But not their spelling mistakes.
///That goes for bad grammar too!
////Not in this case, though...

Funny, but Weird Al Yankovic never gets sued for parodying songs. Oh wait, the song writers laugh about it most of the time

WBC, the only thing that can bring people like Weaver and myself together with people like RAR. Those people are douchebags.

Insane in the McCain: Suing Westboro is the best way to get rid of these ass clowns. However, Sony probably won't win since they are parodies and probably not turning a profit (I hope).

Sony and pretty much everyone else should sue Westboro for defamation and emotional damage. Juries eat that up and award ridiculous amounts of money for it.

And they should also sue the green party for not agreeing with the democratic party or GOP! And they should sue the Hindus for having a different religion!

I hope this thread is full of trolls. I would be very sad if all of these people running their mouths are fully willing to give up their own basic human rights so that someone else doesn't have theirs.

NautatrolRx: Bertsura: NautatrolRx: Aseran: NautatrolRx:
Yes, harassment of minorities and their beliefs is a good thing. Clearly.

No, harassment of Phelps' ministry is a wonderful thing.

The man is the perfect real-life equivalent of an internet troll.

Yeah, and them dirty mooslems too! We should bomb them all into the dirt! Or make them eat pork! Even better.

Do you realize what you're saying? You're saying that you disagree with a minority position, and you want to repress their freedom of speech. Reverse that situation real quick, and then get back to me.

Well, Phelps' beliefs include harassment of minorities and their beliefs. So I guess it cancels out.

They hold up signs. They express their views. How is that harassment? Because certain people don't want a message that opposes their own to get out?

Reminds me of how the democrats run their presidential campaigns.

Wow, you are nothing but a big bag of fail. I can't believe people like you even exist.

NautatrolRx: Paris1127: I'll go with Voltaire on this one. Though I don't agree with [any of] what they say, I shall defend to the death their right to say it.

/God hates the WBC

This is exactly what I'm saying.

All the others in this thread should take a look at themselves. Hypocrits.

Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them.

Colonelcool: Fred Phelps needs to crawl under a rock and die.

Unfortunately, if he dies, two more will rise in his place.

I think that I liked Mr. Phelps more when he just stuck to winning gold medals.

Quick, someone buy www.godhatessony.com!
We mustn't let WBC get it first.
Maybe that should go for www.godhatesjapan.com as well...