Monday, April 28, 2008

Ben Stein vs. Yoko Ono

Ben Stein's response to Yoko Ono on Ono's suit against the movie "Expelled" for using a short clip from John Lennon's song, "Imagine":
So Yoko Ono is suing over the brief Constitutionally protected use of a song that wants us to "Imagine no possessions"? Maybe instead of wasting everyone’s time trying to silence a documentary she should give the song to the world for free? After all, "imagine all the people sharing all the world…You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the World can live as one.”
We're going to put Ono's lawsuit in the file with clips from rock groups that go around spouting socialism at their concerts--which you have to pay $40 to attend.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe you should ask attorney Ben Stein about using someone else's intellectual property without their permission. That's what he's done and that's why he's going to lose.

Anonymous said...

Would you support someone putting your "logic and rhetoric" books online for free? Will it be ok as "fair use" if we only scan one of them instead of all?

Martin Cothran said...

Fair use allows people to use short snippets from books and music, so yes, that's allowable with my book just as with music.

So you don't see anything hypocritical about suing someone for using a small portion of a song that extols the virtues of common property?

At least Abbie Hoffman was intellectually honest enough not to get upset about people stealing his book "Steal this Book".

Anonymous said...

~25 seconds of a three minute song. I guess then it is ok to scan and post ~1/6 of your "logic and rhetoric" books. Glad you approve.

Martin Cothran said...

I had to reject a comment that posited what, in fact, "Yoko Ono" meant in translation, which was quite funny, but inappropriate. Be nice, folks.

Anonymous said...

The producers of "Expelled" had no problem with bearing false witness; breaking "thou shalt not steal" is just another step. I wonder what is next.

Anonymous said...

You do realize that the song socialism refers to common ownership of the MEANS OF PRODUCTION, not all property, right?