Samsung abuses DMCA to take down GTA V exploding Note 7 mod videos

[Scorpus]

Samsung is not happy about a Grand Theft Auto V mod that turns the literally explosive Galaxy Note 7 into an in-game bomb. The company is trying to erase videos of the mod from YouTube, abusing the DMCA in the process.

The DMCA, or Digital Millennium Copyright Act, is a law that specifically relates to digital copyright infringement. Companies use the DMCA to issue takedown notices to websites like YouTube when a user has uploaded copyrighted content like films or music, however the Galaxy Note 7 mod for GTA V doesn't really infringe on the DMCA.

The mod videos are also quite clearly a satirical parody of the whole exploding Galaxy Note 7 saga, which is generally protected under various laws.

Samsung has only taken down a small selection of GTA V mod videos at this stage, so it's not clear if someone at Samsung has manually requested takedowns for some videos, or whether the process was automatic. In any case, it's still easy to find videos demonstrating the mod's functionality through a simple search.

The GTA V mod featuring the Galaxy Note 7 is surprisingly simple: it replaces the sticky bomb with a 3D model of the Note 7, so in game characters react to the Note 7 in the same way as they would for a regular bomb. Anyone interested in some laughs can download the mod from GTA5-Mods, thanks to modder HitmanNiko.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/66744-samsung-abuses-dmca-take-down-gta-v-exploding.html

 

[Lionvibez]

Watch this repost before its taken down hilarious stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IVk8PsSgEI

 

[Kenrick]

Watch this repost before its taken down hilarious stuff.

LOL. The mod is awesome and funny. Liked!

 

[mrjgriffin]

I like how samsung is admitting their mistakes with the note 7 but when it comes to grand theft auto.....they just can't handle it lol

 

[Bigtruckseries]

SAMSUNG LOL - you can't stop the truth.

 

[Bigtruckseries]

I'm not sure what's funnier...

the mod video or the "Samsung removed this video" notification

 

[Bigtruckseries]

Watch this repost before its taken down hilarious stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IVk8PsSgEI

THANK YOU

I downloaded this video. Samsung can't take it and I'm just happy to do my part to help spread the truth.

 

[geogan]

Just shows you - one rule for the rich and corporates and another for everyone else... can't understand why some ****head moderator working for youtube actually complied with their request. Probably some loser being paid minimum wage at home in india somewhere who doesn't understand much about copyright laws...

 

[Wendy Oltman]

I like how samsung is admitting their mistakes with the note 7 but when it comes to grand theft auto.....they just can't handle it lol

I think if the original mod creators parodied the name on the phone to Sammy or Sungsam instead of just using Samsung, they might have gotten away with it. I can understand how Samsung would have issues having their brand in a video game.

 

[Kibaruk]

It's funny because the phone explodes... get it?

Well in the end is part of their reputation for a phone and a video, you do know there are people that can take anything wrong however you say it, this is PR mitigation and they have departments working to keep things nice and smooth, being this bad or not if those videos are not taken off someone will loose their job who has nothing to do with anything that really matters so... don't be so harsh on the small dude =P

SAMSUNG LOL - you can't stop the truth.

Oh well... I would like to disagree with you, but...

THANK YOU

I downloaded this video. Samsung can't take it and I'm just happy to do my part to help spread the truth.

Oh boy now you are "spreading" the truth like some sort of rebel anonymous.

I'm not sure what's funnier...

the mod video or the "Samsung removed this video" notification

I do know what is even funnier, people who make 3 posts like this was some sort of messenger instead of a forum.

How happy must you be to have your iphone instead of android crap that blows up lol.

 

[Rq3EWAq]

Haha that's hilarious, made me laugh!!

 

[Uncle Al]

Fantastic! I'm sure the poor engineers at Samsung are hiding under their workbenches now!

 

[MonsterZero]

How happy must you be to have your iphone instead of android crap that blows up lol.

iPhone 7 exploded also, it's just no one covers it. iPhone this year really is the 'meh' device of the year. I hope everyone feels great overpaying for a lack luster device.

http://nypost.com/2016/09/30/is-the-iphone-7-exploding-like-the-recalled-samsung/

 

[IAMTHESTIG]

Samsung has no sense of humor.... Zzzzzz

Honestly I feel since Samsung handled it with good intentions I don't think this joke mod is a tarnish on their record. It is just for fun... somehow I bet people will still buy Samsung products.

What do you guys think?

 

[Kenrick]

I like how samsung is admitting their mistakes with the note 7 but when it comes to grand theft auto.....they just can't handle it lol

I think if the original mod creators parodied the name on the phone to Sammy or Sungsam instead of just using Samsung, they might have gotten away with it. I can understand how Samsung would have issues having their brand in a video game.

Showing a brand name is not a ground for takedown. Samsung dont own the video, nor the music and game showed.It is funny how can they ask for takedown and the ***** youtube admin approved it without knowing the guidelines.

 

[Kenrick]

SAMSUNG LOL - you can't stop the truth.

Be ready with the galaxy warriors.

 

[ManuelV]

They are taking it down because they know is awesome and will give them bad publicity.

 

[Trillionsin]

"The company is trying to erase videos of the mod from YouTube, abusing the DMCA in the process."

They should really just go along with it and laugh it off.

 

[gusticles41]

Note 5 owner, here. I literally lol'd at the video.

 

[Bigtruckseries]

Be ready with the galaxy warriors.

My iPhone 7 Plus 256GB battery is charged and waiting for the Samsung Galaxy warriors and their explosive devices.

 

[mrjgriffin]

I think if the original mod creators parodied the name on the phone to Sammy or Sungsam instead of just using Samsung, they might have gotten away with it. I can understand how Samsung would have issues having their brand in a video game.

they would have gotten away with it but unfortunately they used samsung lol.......nevertheless the mod won't disappear . I'd like to see samsung try to battle rockstar in court though.....I doubt they'd win

 

[Wendy Oltman]

they would have gotten away with it but unfortunately they used samsung lol.......nevertheless the mod won't disappear . I'd like to see samsung try to battle rockstar in court though.....I doubt they'd win

lol me as well. Perhaps taking out their frustration or just an attention diverting tactic, who knows?

 

[Wendy Oltman]

Showing a brand name is not a ground for takedown. Samsung dont own the video, nor the music and game showed.It is funny how can they ask for takedown and the ***** youtube admin approved it without knowing the guidelines.

Yeah because it is SAMSUNG and not some small company. They have their worth and to some extent say in the market. I think so.