Star Wars Kid Court case

[pulse8]

Originally posted by: Tom
The people responsible for posting the video on the internet, I'm certain they violated school policies, and most likely violated the law.

There was nothing criminal with what the kids did. It was a civil matter. I doubt they even have school policies to cover such a thing unless they can say it was harassment of some kind.

Also, this kid did this to himself. While he never expected it to get out onto the internet, the kid did something humiliating in front of a camera and recorded it. I see it the same way as all of these celebrity sex tapes or these idiotic people who tape themselves commiting crimes. If you don't want anyone else to see it, don't video tape it!

It was a tough lesson for this kid to learn, but people need to realize the world we live in now and that if you record your actions they can be used against you.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: Tom
William Hung made himself an object of ridicule, that isn't the same circumstance at all.

The people responsible for posting the video on the internet, I'm certain they violated school policies, and most likely violated the law.

They deserved to get sued, no question about it.

The kid himself, does not deserve what has been said in this thread about him. He is a human being, free to make his own decisions, it isn't any of our business if he decides not to try to make money from promoting the video in some way.

Not exploiting every opportunity to make money does not make a person stupid, or weak, or a baby, or a whiner, it is one of the principal freedoms a person should have.

btw, I've seen the video, a long time ago, and while it is funny, I also think the kids does a halfway decent job in the video, lots of people would look a lot worse and couldn't express themselves as freely, even when they think no one is going to see them.

George Lucas could sue then, because Star Wars kid filmed something trying to imitate a George Lucas trademark.

He could sue, but the people responsible for distributing it, which as far as I know doesn't include the kid. And it is unlikely he could win, you can't trademark sword fighting.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: YoshiSato

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: HumblePie
I still refuse to watch this video out of empathy. Everytime a friend tries to show me it I walk away. Unless it's a hollywood film depicting fiction, I refuse to laugh at the misfortune of others.

LOL.. You're lame. The kid was videotaped running around with a broomstick acting like he was Darth Maul.

If the kid's parents weren't such retards, they'd help the kid capitalize on it and teach him a lesson in humility. Everyone does something stupid in his or her life and gets laughed at.. either have fun too or have an aneurysm.

Lets see how you feel when 74 million people are laughing at you.

If only I could think of something to do to entertain an audience of 74 million people.. Seriously.. Star Wars Kid was spontaneous and hilarious - he really should've capitalized on it.

For sure. Out of those 74 milllion, if he got just one in twenty people to spend $1, he'd still have made over 3 million.

He could have made a sequel, or something like that. Make a few more quid. At 17 he could have earned far more than most people ever will.

Having said that, he must have felt like crap when he knew that countless people were laughing at him.

The other week, I watched this '100 funniest moments.... ever!' program, inlcuding chestnuts such as george bush "you fool me twice.... uh... you can't no fool me twice!" and othe such comic moments. Star wars kid was in that list!! Awesome stuff.

 

[loic2003]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski

Originally posted by: Tom
William Hung made himself an object of ridicule, that isn't the same circumstance at all.

The people responsible for posting the video on the internet, I'm certain they violated school policies, and most likely violated the law.

They deserved to get sued, no question about it.

The kid himself, does not deserve what has been said in this thread about him. He is a human being, free to make his own decisions, it isn't any of our business if he decides not to try to make money from promoting the video in some way.

Not exploiting every opportunity to make money does not make a person stupid, or weak, or a baby, or a whiner, it is one of the principal freedoms a person should have.

btw, I've seen the video, a long time ago, and while it is funny, I also think the kids does a halfway decent job in the video, lots of people would look a lot worse and couldn't express themselves as freely, even when they think no one is going to see them.

George Lucas could sue then, because Star Wars kid filmed something trying to imitate a George Lucas trademark.

That would easily be the funniest lawsuit to watch.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: brxndxn

Originally posted by: HumblePie
I still refuse to watch this video out of empathy. Everytime a friend tries to show me it I walk away. Unless it's a hollywood film depicting fiction, I refuse to laugh at the misfortune of others.

LOL.. You're lame. The kid was videotaped running around with a broomstick acting like he was Darth Maul.

If the kid's parents weren't such retards, they'd help the kid capitalize on it and teach him a lesson in humility. Everyone does something stupid in his or her life and gets laughed at.. either have fun too or have an aneurysm.

uh they did, they are going to be getting a couple hundred thousand dollars, lol.

 

[YoshiSato]

Originally posted by: Tom

He could sue, but the people responsible for distributing it, which as far as I know doesn't include the kid. And it is unlikely he could win, you can't trademark sword fighting.

Given today intellectual property rights laws I'm sure Chuck Norris would have a case.

😛

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: pulse8

Originally posted by: Tom
The people responsible for posting the video on the internet, I'm certain they violated school policies, and most likely violated the law.

There was nothing criminal with what the kids did. It was a civil matter. I doubt they even have school policies to cover such a thing unless they can say it was harassment of some kind.

Also, this kid did this to himself. While he never expected it to get out onto the internet, the kid did something humiliating in front of a camera and recorded it. I see it the same way as all of these celebrity sex tapes or these idiotic people who tape themselves commiting crimes. If you don't want anyone else to see it, don't video tape it!

It was a tough lesson for this kid to learn, but people need to realize the world we live in now and that if you record your actions they can be used against you.

Not legally.

As to criminality, theft is a crime. Misusing government property could be a crime. Do you know if the school gave permission for their equipment to be used to publish video on the internet ? I seriously doubt it.
In the United States anyway, there are many states where publishing someone's photo without permission is a crime.
And civil law is still the law, it's possible to violate the law without it being criminal.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

So this is how Canadians treat each other? What a horrible country.

 

[youppi]

and this one was in canada, if it was in the states, i wouldnt be surprised if it would be a multimillion dollar award

 

[ballmode]

What a chode

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Tom
William Hung made himself an object of ridicule, that isn't the same circumstance at all.

The people responsible for posting the video on the internet, I'm certain they violated school policies, and most likely violated the law.

What laws were violated?

They deserved to get sued, no question about it.

Yep, that's how you solve everything. Sue! :thumbsup:

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: youppi
and this one was in canada, if it was in the states, i wouldnt be surprised if it would be a multimillion dollar award

How'd you guess? :laugh:

Just like the time a McDonalds worker spilled coffee on a woman and won... And got a lot of money because of it.

 

[Looney]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine

Originally posted by: youppi
and this one was in canada, if it was in the states, i wouldnt be surprised if it would be a multimillion dollar award

How'd you guess? :laugh:

Just like the time a McDonalds worker spilled coffee on a woman and won... And got a lot of money because of it.

The woman spilled coffee on herself. She was going through the drive-thru, had the coffee in her lap, and i guess she squeezed too hard.

 

[Tom]

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: Tom
William Hung made himself an object of ridicule, that isn't the same circumstance at all.

The people responsible for posting the video on the internet, I'm certain they violated school policies, and most likely violated the law.

What laws were violated?

They deserved to get sued, no question about it.

Yep, that's how you solve everything. Sue! :thumbsup:

I listed some possibilities a few posts back.

Lawsuits don't solve everything, in fact money is a poor substitute for correcting disputes much of the time. But it's the compromise we accept to have a society governed by law.

The alternative exists for you to see, in the Sudan, in Iraq under Saddam, etc.

Is that the way of life you prefer ?

 

[fLum0x]

Originally posted by: HumblePie
I still refuse to watch this video out of empathy. Everytime a friend tries to show me it I walk away. Unless it's a hollywood film depicting fiction, I refuse to laugh at the misfortune of others.

what is wrong with you? you probably laugh at horrible things if they happen in front of you. stop trying to act "civilized" about it. laughing is good for the soul