#Goldieblox and the Three MCs
▻http://waxy.org/2013/11/goldieblox_and_the_three_mcs
It’s entirely possible that the Goldieblox video is simultaneously:
A parody
An advertisement
A derivative of the Beastie Boys’ copyrighted work
A violation of MCA’s dying wishes
And, yet, perfectly legal under the fair use doctrine.
Only a judge can decide whether Goldieblox’s parody is fair use. And, until they do and all the appeals are closed, none of us will know.
In the meantime, let’s bust some myths!
In his last will, MCA stated that “in no event may my image or name or any music or any artistic property created by me be used for advertising purposes.”
By ignoring the last wishes of one of hip-hop’s greatest musicians, less than two years after his death, there’s a strong argument to be made that what Goldieblox is doing is unethical. To me, it feels crass and insensitive.
But is it illegal? Not if the court finds the parody to be fair use.
