Wesley83's Blog

IT IS ONE of the longest running Internet gags, but apparently Youtube is a bit concerned that the Hitler bunker parody infringes copyright.

For years if something went wrong someone would take the scene from the German movie Der Untergang, or "Downfall", and tinker with the subtitles.

However, According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Constantin Film, which made the film in 2004, has told Youtube that it does not want its flick to be used in such spoofs.

Ironically the most recent parody is Hitler's supposed reaction to Constantin's decision to remove parodies, however the clips have covered topics as diverse as the death of Michael Jackson and the launch of the Ipad.

Now most of them only display a pop up message saying, "This video contains content from Constantin Film, who has blocked it on copyright grounds".

Constantin is using Content ID, a tool supplied by Youtube to enable rights holders to set different policies depending on the proportion of their content used in a video or the length of the clip.

Fair use provisions in many countries such as the US were created to allow portions of copyrighted material to be used for purposes such as commentary, education, satire or parody.

Some creators of Hitler parodies based on the film could attempt to dispute the removal of their clips with Constantin.

Amusingly the director of the flick, Oliver Hirschbiegel said he loves the parody and every time there is a new one he watches them.

He said, "Many times the lines are so funny, I laugh out loud, and I'm laughing about the scene that I staged myself! You couldn't get a better compliment as a director." µ