Musician DMCAs several YouTube channels and Steam Games

[Ev1l0rd]

Musician Alex Mauer (composer of River City Ransom: Underground and Starr Mazer) has issued several DMCA strikes on YouTube and Steam for the games Starr Mazer DSP* and River City Ransom: Underground, as she claims to hold a copyright on the games' soundtracks, as well as a general C&D to Turner Broadcasting (the parent company for Cartoon Network and Adult Swim) to stop using her music. Amongst those actions she also has become severly unhinged, sending out death threats to both Imagos' lawyer and several YouTubers covering the situation.

*The developer of Starr Mazer DSP, Imagos Softworks is currently suing her to attest that the soundtracks copyright belongs to them, as it was made under a work-for-hire contract, which signs away all ownership of the soundtrack to Imagos.

To say that the story surrounding everything with Alex Mauer, Starr Mazer: DSP, River City Ransom: Underground, and various YouTubers is complicated … well that may be an even bigger understatement than my opening paragraph. Yet, here we are, in a mess of accusations, death threats, and now legal battles involving lawsuits and restraining orders. This is a story that’s difficult to handle, as the general public needs to know what is going on; however, more coverage to the issue may just end up enhancing it, as the behavior of the one at the center of the controversy has not only been erratic but has escalated as time has gone on. There are perceived issues surrounding mental health with those involved and given the erratic behavior of one of the players involved, trying to minimize harm of the publication of this article is incredibly difficult. How can you predict the unpredictable? Nevertheless, our commitment is to the truth of the matter, and that’s what the aim of this article is.

As a closing statement I'd like to note that Alex Mauer has already been harassed on Twitter and her e-mail account by various internet trolls. Please prove you are a better human being than that and do not engage in this behavior . In fact, do not engage with Alex Mauer at all. Linked below is the TechRaptor article which I personally found to be the best coverage of this entire debacle as it reveals all the details, as well as an archive.org link to the docket of the case for those interested in keeping up with it.

TechRaptor article
archive.org link to the Docket for "IMAGOS FILMS, LLC et al v. MAUER"

 

[the_randomizer]

What a power hungry douchebag Alex Mauer is, I hope none of those claims gets through.

 

[Ev1l0rd]

I hope none of those claims gets through.

Fun facts:

• The first time she failed at filing them, meaning that the copyright DMCA system youtube has only gave all channels a single strike. She rescinded the claims and tried to refile them in such a way that all channels would get strikes for every single video. That is clearly malicious intent.
• YouTube seems to be blocking most DMCA complaints by now, so they have taken notice (I assume TotalBiscuit informed them, as that is what said he would do).
• YouTube has to listen to a DMCA strike unless a counter-notification is submitted or if the strike is clearly false, or else they lose their safe-harbour protections. If a counter-notification is submitted, after 14 days the video is put back up and the other side has to take you to court if they want the DMCA strike reinstated. No-one has ever done that, presumably because of the legal hassle involved with making a case over a couple YouTube videos, although in this case it seems likely as some DMCA'ed YouTubers seem to be out for blood.
• Not mentioned in my summary, but she also DMCA'ed Twitch streamers, including HyperRPG, who has quite a big channel and was unable to stream during E3, meaning they lost quite a bit of potential revenue. Most targeted YouTubers are small time YouTubers who likely aren't willing to hire a lawyer.

Worth mentioning at least.

 

[Sonic Angel Knight]

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO THE INTERNET THIS YEAR!

 

[tech3475]

I've been getting my coverage from sidalpha who may be worth checking if you are interested:
https://www.youtube.com/sidalpha

In addition, Leonard French (the attorney for the studio) posts videos on this:
https://www.youtube.com/user/ljfrench009/videos

Anyone affected may want to contact TotalBiscuit who is trying to help by using his contacts at Youtube:


Needless to say, Alex Mauer has herself been issuing threats against others involved such as Sid Alpha and has shown signs of suspected mental instability (although she was cleared by authorities) so not contacting her would be advisable even if it should be common sense.

 

[Ev1l0rd]

I've been getting my coverage from sidalpha who may be worth checking if you are interested:
https://www.youtube.com/sidalpha

A quick warning to anyone looking to consume Sid's content: He's been getting quite off the rocker as of late, as he lives in the same state as Mauer and she has been sending him death threats, causing him to blow up at what would otherwise be minor faults of other outlets covering the debacle (he specifally called out ARS Technica and Destructoid. While the latter directly called Youtubers ambulance chasers, the former was exceedingly neutral on the matter and at worst was only about the RCR:U takedown) due to him worrying for his family. As a result, you may want to look at his last three videos on the matter or so with a critical eye and not assume that everything he gets mad about is really that bad. The earlier videos are spot on though.

Leonard French is Imagos Softworks lawyer, who got popular earlier on for covering the H3H3 productions lawsuit and the Digital Homicide 'lawsuit'.

 

[the_randomizer]

Fun facts:

• The first time she failed at filing them, meaning that the copyright DMCA system youtube has only gave all channels a single strike. She rescinded the claims and tried to refile them in such a way that all channels would get strikes for every single video. That is clearly malicious intent.
• YouTube seems to be blocking most DMCA complaints by now, so they have taken notice (I assume TotalBiscuit informed them, as that is what said he would do).
• YouTube has to listen to a DMCA strike unless a counter-notification is submitted or if the strike is clearly false, or else they lose their safe-harbour protections. If a counter-notification is submitted, after 14 days the video is put back up and the other side has to take you to court if they want the DMCA strike reinstated. No-one has ever done that, presumably because of the legal hassle involved with making a case over a couple YouTube videos, although in this case it seems likely as some DMCA'ed YouTubers seem to be out for blood.
• Not mentioned in my summary, but she also DMCA'ed Twitch streamers, including HyperRPG, who has quite a big channel and was unable to stream during E3, meaning they lost quite a bit of potential revenue. Most targeted YouTubers are small time YouTubers who likely aren't willing to hire a lawyer.

Worth mentioning at least.

Again, she's too power hungry, and clearly butthurt and abusing the DMCA system.

 

[Subtle Demise]

We need a mass upload bot for cases like this.

 

[Hells Malice]

I do hope she gets legally destroyed. It'd be a nice bit of discouragement for any idiot who might try something similar in the future.

TB is a good dude, nice to see him helping out the little guys again.

also i'm too lazy to read the entire techraptor article, but jesus is that snippet poorly written. Wow.

 

[Deleted User]

Jim Sterling covered this or something similar. I hope she gets destroyed.

 

[Taleweaver]

The more I read into this story, the less I understand. If I get things correctly, she initially made music for a game (starr mazer), but then found out it was used in starr mazer: DSP. This was within the reach of the contract, but she disagrees. Thus far, I get this. But how and why does she get the idea that this issue shouldn't just be resolved internally with imagos softworks but with youtubers as well (meaning: paying customers)? The worst you can blame them for is similar to how everyone is to blame for child labor (we buy the cheapest clothes, which can only be as cheap because someone gets minimal wage).

I mean...just look around your house. Every bit of furniture, and especially every bit of electronics, is the result of dozens if not hundreds of people working together. It would be stupid to receive death threats because the person who made the design of a chip in my television got a shitty contract deal (or didn't read said contract careful enough). Yet somehow, this now seems like a fitting analogy.

As a closing statement I'd like to note that Alex Mauer has already been harassed on Twitter and her e-mail account by various internet trolls. Please prove you are a better human being than that and do not engage in this behavior .

Erm...I'm not sure if you realise, but by stating this very obvious fact, at the very best you get the same outcome as not mentioning it. Chances, however, are more likely that this increases the chances. It's a psychology thing.

 

[tech3475]

A quick warning to anyone looking to consume Sid's content: He's been getting quite off the rocker as of late, as he lives in the same state as Mauer and she has been sending him death threats, causing him to blow up at what would otherwise be minor faults of other outlets covering the debacle (he specifally called out ARS Technica and Destructoid. While the latter directly called Youtubers ambulance chasers, the former was exceedingly neutral on the matter and at worst was only about the RCR:U takedown) due to him worrying for his family. As a result, you may want to look at his last three videos on the matter or so with a critical eye and not assume that everything he gets mad about is really that bad. The earlier videos are spot on though.

Leonard French is Imagos Softworks lawyer, who got popular earlier on for covering the H3H3 productions lawsuit and the Digital Homicide 'lawsuit'.

IIRC the issue was about the quality of the journalism and still seemed one sided and/or lacking information such as her attempt to really screw over youtubers.

I wouldn't say the AT article was "exceedingly" neutral in that regard as it's lacking information of the overall picture, which could affect people's judgements.

The more I read into this story, the less I understand. If I get things correctly, she initially made music for a game (starr mazer), but then found out it was used in starr mazer: DSP. This was within the reach of the contract, but she disagrees. Thus far, I get this. But how and why does she get the idea that this issue shouldn't just be resolved internally with imagos softworks but with youtubers as well (meaning: paying customers)? The worst you can blame them for is similar to how everyone is to blame for child labor (we buy the cheapest clothes, which can only be as cheap because someone gets minimal wage).

Alex Mauer was/is likely trying to use the Youtubers to coerce Imagos into paying, hence why she told them to contact Imagos even though they couldn't remove the copyright strike.

 

[osaka35]

Copyright is hard.

 

[FAST6191]

Hmm. Wonder what will happen if it turns out the composer falsely, and possibly maliciously, attempted to do all this noticing.
Courts have taken a rather dim view of such things in the past, there is possibly a tiny basis for a claim of acting in good faith if it all happened before various filings/acceptance by the court, or any temporary injunctions that might get issued.

Those less familiar with the idea of work for hire have a look for cases involving session musicians as it is a pretty similar concept. The game industry also has an interesting history with the concept if you go back to the pre NES and "home computer" days where a lot of programmers would be denied credit for their work, hence things like hidden credit screens or them signing their work in interesting ways.

 

[StarTrekVoyager]

Death threats? Fuck her.

 

[Futurdreamz]

Lets see how this plays out then.

 

[Kioku]

Eh. Their work was terrible anyway.

 

[the_randomizer]

Death threats? Fuck her.

A rusty fork would make it better.

 

[DinohScene]

*shrugs*
It's not like the music is good anyway ;o;

 

[Silverthorn]

I just looked through the publicly available legal proceeding and her lawyer apparently dipped (in a legal way of course).
So yeah, even if she somehow manages to find another lawyer, she is most definitely not winning that case.