Domino's pizza video prank pulled too soon.
As revolting as a prank YouTube video featuring two Domino’s pizza employees defiling food products for delivery was, it should not have been pulled down so quickly.
A New York Times story today about the prank stated, the video was removed from YouTube “because of a copyright claim from Ms. Hammonds” (one of the two employees). In the meantime, Domino’s posted a response YouTube video, apologizing for its employees’ actions.
While Domino’s has the right to protect itself from libelous comments – the employees have since said it was not actually food for delivery – doesn’t the public have a right to know that the controversy is happening? At the moment, the public can only see Domino’s side of the issue.
If Hammond was the one who complained, that means she did not post the video herself; otherwise, she would be able to take it down on her own. Shouldn’t the video poster be able to respond before YouTube removes the video in question?
This situation reinforces the need to change the DMCA so that takedowns don’t happen without notice and an opportunity to respond.
Note: the videos are still available on the always reliable Consumerist.
Read more at Public Citizen’s Consumer Law & Policy blog.