Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown

enigmax
May 23, 2012
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Rickroll,
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It’s possibly one of the most popular ever memes in the history of the Internet but today it lies in tatters. The Rickroll phenomenon, whereby people are promised one thing but given “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley instead, has been ended by a copyright takedown request by AVG Technologies. It’s a brave move – Rickrolling was invented by 4chan and who knows how they’re going to react.

Anyone who has spent much time online, especially on Internet message boards of any kind, will be aware of Rickrolling.

It’s an incredibly simple concept. The meme is based on a bait and switch, whereby someone posts a hyperlink which allegedly provides content relevant to the current discussion, but in fact leads to the 1987 Rick Astley song “Never Gonna Give You Up” instead.

People who follow these links and end up viewing the song/video are said to have been “Rickrolled” and over the years millions of people have been fooled into doing so. However, those falling into the trap today are being met with something not nearly as entertaining and, if it’s even possible, something that is even more annoying.

Due to a copyright complaint, the original Rickroll video has been removed from YouTube.

Taking down a five-year-old video with tens of millions of views is strange enough, but it is far from clear why AVG Technologies – the people behind AVG Anti-Virus (?) – would want to do so at all.

Hopefully there has been some terrible mistake and everything will be sorted out soon. If not, the consequences could be unpredictable. The Rickroll meme started life on the notorious 4chan message board in 2007 and developed into a worldwide sensation from there, and as we all know that particular community is not known for its patience, nor lack of creativity when it comes to revenge tactics.

This is not the first time that the Rickroll video has been removed though. It was removed by YouTube in 2010 but reinstated shortly afterwards.

TorrentFreak contacted both AVG and Google-owned YouTube for comment and we’ll post their statements here when they arrive.

Update: After being blocked for 24 hours, the video is now back. We’re still waiting for an official explanation on what happened.

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Anonymous Monkey

Wait, what ?!? AVG??!! LOL, I bet someone at AVG got RickRolled and didn’t like it.
- Grzechooo
  
  Or maybe some trojan rickrolled it’s “users”.
  - Richard A
    
    OMFG…. you should see what AVG said about it.
    
    
    “” YouTube is a piracy haven with on last count, over nine
          thousand videos promoting the use of cracked versions of our
    software”"
    
    “”YouTube facilitates the promotion, of the theft of our intellectual property”
    
    Fuck me…. you should see the rest of the article , they
    even talk about pushing through laws that will block YouTube.
    
    source : http://tiny.cc/AVG-Response-To-Youtube
    - Anon1
      
      Nice try with the trojan horse link…
      
      It is indeed pretty funny; why would they target something they don’t have the rights to rather than the videos about cracking their software?
    - Guest
      
      I cant believe that AVG are so butthurt. What they said in that article is shocking.
    - Lucas
      
      WOW
      I won’t be using AVG anymore after what they said about bittorrent.
    - Click it
      
      Is the guy from AVG on drugs in that article.
      
      He goes on a mental rant. Thought I had seen everything….guess not.
    - Anonymous
      
      My antivirus blocked that link. I was almost expecting to see the category “Rickroll-JS”.
    - Anon
      
      That article is the most shocking thing I’ve ever read. Ever
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Lon-Ilol/100003303543226 Lon Ilol
      
      Uninstalling AVG atm and will start recommending other Antivirus programs to friends,
      
      well done AVG.
  - Click iT
    
    OMFG…. you should see what AVG said about it.
    
    “” YouTube is a piracy haven with on last count, over nine
    thousand videos promoting the use of cracked versions of our
    software”"
    
    “”YouTube facilitates the promotion, of the theft of our intellectual property”
    
    Fuck me…. you should see the rest of the article , they
    even talk about pushing through laws that will block YouTube.
    
    source : http://tiny.cc/AVG-Response-To-Youtube
    - Click it
      
      harmless .js btw….. flaggers….looking at you !
      
      hissy fit pussies mad cause they got rolled….. faith in peoples brain power -9001
    - Asdasd
      
      ITS OVER NINE THOUSAND!
    - Richard A / Click iT
      
      you don’t say !
      
      context just passed you by….didn’t it.
  - Anonymous
    
    Do not forget to visit this link http://www.year13.com.au/????????
  - Anonymous
    
    my friend’s aunt brought home $17621 last month. she gets paid on the internet and bought a $566900 condo. All she did was get blessed and work up the guide revealed on this web site===>> ?????? http://job2seek.blogspot.com
  - Anonymous
    
    my friend’s mother-in-law makes $85 every hour on the computer. She has been out of a job for 6 months but last month her paycheck was $19177 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read more here ====>> ?????? http://enternet-work.blogspot.com
  - http://lazycash1.com/ Anonymous
    
    my buddy’s sister-in-law made $18108 a month ago. she worrks on the internet and bought a $525400 condo. All she did was get blessed and put into action the instructions given on this website
    
    ?????? (Click At My Name For Link)
- Guest
  
  Since the odds are pretty fucking low that AVG owns the copyright to a Rick Astley music video from 1987, does this mean YouTube will just automatically take down content if it receives a copyright complaint? Without any fact checking?
  
  If so, somebody please bombard MPAA and RIAA videos on YouTube with copyright complaints.
  - Veroth
    
    You need to have company to do so, but I’m working on it.
    - Guest
      
      DON’T DO THIS. Intentionally frivolous takedown notices are illegal and carry a hefty penalty, AFAIK. Also, you can’t blame YouTube for trying to cover their own asses by taking down first, asking questions later… would you rather they screen videos before allowing people to upload them?
    - Anyone
      
      what penalty?
      34% of takedowns are wrong, yet I have yet to hear of a penalty of any sort.
      
      the whole system is completely broken and youtube should only have to filter illegal content.
    - Ralph Brubaker
      
      Interesting, if you’re really serious about starting a business, may I suggest this free service? Sentry Business Associates. Here;
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHy7DGLTt8g
    - TheOiulkj
      
      It is NOT illegal to intentionally send takedown notices to youtube. It IS illegal to sent false DMCA notices, but youtube doesn’t require companies to send a DMCA notice.
      
      It’s basically like a “mod” status and they can take down whatever they fell like. Didn’t any of you read the articles from the mega song takedown?
  - anon
    
    Yes they will remove any video without checking that is how the DMCA link removal policy works. The law states that when a DMCA take down notice is issued and in order for the company to use the safe DMCA harbors it must remove the link and or content.
    
    A few months ago a bunch of universal videos were removed from youtube of justin bieber byonce and many other artists even though they were on the copyright holders youtube account. Youtube was just following the law. Also thats why the megaupload song was removed.
    
    If the content is removed due to DMCA take down notice the copyright holder must send in a counter claim to reinstate the content.
  - Guest
    
    Will AVG face a penalty?
    
    Also, I can blame YouTube. It’s their responsibility to determine if an allegation is true or false, and then act on it accordingly. What they do now is assume that an allegation = guilty.
    
    And it results in dysfuctional, out of control shit like this.
    
    It isn’t even close to being acceptable, I don’t care how tightly it lets YouTube cover its ass. They should lobby to reform copyright law or challenge it in court, not be snivelling cowards about it.
    - Guest
      
      Whoops, replied to the wrong comment.
      
      This was supposed to be at the Guest who said “DON’T DO THIS. Intentionally frivolous takedown blah blah”.
    - Guest
      
      It’s not Youtube’s responsibility to make any judgement. That’s the job of the real copyright holder. If AVG took down a video illegally, the real copyright should ask Youtube to reinstate the video and then proceed to sue the hell outta AVG.
      
      You can’t expect an intermediary third party like Youtube to play judge. They are just following the law and the way the current system is, this is how the law requires them to work.
      
      Besides, its not possible to manually verify authenticity of thousands of takedown notices sent daily. That would take forever. If Youtube had its way, they would do away with the whole takedown shenanigan but unfortunately they HAVE to follow the law.
  - yup
    
    “does this mean YouTube will just automatically take down content if it
    receives a copyright complaint? Without any fact checking?”
    
    News Flash: SOPA & ACTA
- arf
  
  More info about it here:
  http://tinyurl.com/d2gfqa
  - XioN
    
    fuck lol amateur !
    
    I have a MUCH better one…..of course
    
    http://tinyurl.com/yreykn
Address Hidden From You

Today’s a sad, sad day in the life of the Internet.
- Srik Ireton
  
  The Video is back…
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHg5SJYRHA0
  
  !?
  - http://marcokelly.com Marco Kelly
    
    Sir, are you trying to rickroll us? :o
  - Anon
    
    http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/3749-i-see-what-you-did-there-no-text.png
  - Click it
    
    Watch out…. asshats who click it will then flag you.
- Midarezaki
  
  Curiously, I’ve seen a sudden spike in calls to the rickroll-by-phone line 0871 2377537 today!
Anyone

this is what’s wrong with the internet and copyright today

I doubt AVG has obtained the copyright from Rick Astley (or more likely his label), yet they can successfully takedown a video from youtube.
- Anonymous
  
  That’s cos YouTube react to ANY takedown notice, they don’t bother to even fact check ANYTHING! (no, they really don’t!)
  - Anon
    
    thats because they CANT.
    before you got shootin your mouth off and sounding like an idiot, read the actual laws. per DMCA the requirements are to take down first & sort out if they had the actual right to do it later.
    
    If they dont take it down, they risk losing their protections against liability.
    - Mikey
      
      The scary thing is there’s no liability for fraud…. but two can fight this war as someone else said. Let’s target all MPAA and other industry with false take down notices. Youtube has to comply and there’s no legal repercussions… or if there is… all groups submitting take down notices will be in trouble.
    - Anonymous Coward
      
      Many takedowns on YouTube are done through a separate program. For more info, search for “youtube content id”.
      
      It’s worse than the DMCA because it requires no statement under penalty of perjury.
- Disgustedbygoogle
  
  Rick Astley is a great guy for anyone who hasn’t met him.
  He saw the Rick Roll meme and took it to the next level, even going so far as to rick roll an entire macy parade with the song, fully aware of the memes popularity.
  
  He wouldn’t pull the video, but he has a family and a life and doesn’t have the time or interest in making an issue over someone else pretending that they’re him unless it has a negative impact on his career and lifestyle. He has a great sense of humor.
  
  AVG attempting to take down this video is trying to challenge an existing clause in Googles DMCA rules. They’re bidding on the hope that users who upload videos onto youtube won’t be inclined to defend them being taken down by revealing their identity to the challenger.
  
  Youtube is a safe harbor for pedophiles. The current rules for DMCA take down procedures allow pedophiles to file a copyright claim on a anyones videos (children included) and those videos won’t be restored unless the owner responds with identifiable information that takes the case out of Googles hands.
  
  This hands the criminal element your address, just to save youtube liability.
  - Danny
    
    Why are you talking about paedophiles? I don’t see how that is relevant or even makes sense???
  - AC
    
    Ok… so youtube is a paedophile safe harbour?
    what does that make 4chan? the Junior Chamber of Commerce? O_O
  - Guest
    
    The pedophile argument is baffling. Firstly, why are prepubescent children posting public videos on their own on YouTube? Secondly, how is this an easier way to find children than literally any other method (social networks, chat rooms, etc.)
    
    I hope that was a joke, if not I’d like some of what you’re on.
Anonymous

FBI should cease YouTube’s domain name and have Homeland Security bust into Sergey Brin and Larry Page’s homes and arrest them.
- Anonymous
  
  Sergey Brin and Larry Page would easily keep them away with bribery if nothing else.
  They have so much money, they could drag the FBI court case for YEARS, causing the FBI to drop it as they fear for their jobs!
  
  Jobs you ask? Yes when as much money is involved as that owned by Google, job loss isn’t out of the question.
agtrier

This is just a plot to make us watch the video again!
Anonymous

WHY U DO THIS AVG?!?!?!?!
Diego

Oh boy… Do they really need to awake de Internet Hate Machine?
- intern net
  
  It will give them something better to do than, spam youtube calling a random chosen uploader a peedo.
  That’s all they seem to do nowadays, shame, cuz some of the old raids where actually lulzy when the target actually deserved it.
Aaaa

Just another copyright twat abusing their power.
Anon

“Rickrolling was invented by 4chan and who knows how they’re going to react.”

Here’s your answer: 4chan will be glad to see the back of this overabused cancer of a meme, unless we’re talking about 12-yo’s here. Good song, but good riddance.
Anonymous

Taking down a five-year-old video with tens of millions of views is
strange enough, but it is far from clear why AVG Technologies – the
people behind AVG Anti-Virus – would want to do so at all.

Ok. WTF. First of all: it doesn’t show how to pirate their stuff.
Second: AVG doesn’t own the copyrights anyway (oh wait,oh sorry, UMG, Kim Dotcom and other people)
Third: It’s not a virus. It’s a viral. It’s just 2 other letters.
Fourth: AVG sucks. Avast ftw me hearties. (especially pirate english mode)
- http://www.peridotdynasty.com/ Roni W
  
  I’ve been meaning to try Avast. I suppose the time is now.
  - Darkhog
    
    You shouldn’t. I’ve installed Avast when I yet was blind follower of $teve Ballmer and Bill Gate$. Next day I had to reinstall system, because Avast thought ntldr is a virus and deleted it. And I didn’t have another machine to copy that file from.
    - Zeroth.ltd.
      
      Lies.
    - Heroth
      
      Pies.
    - Neroth
      
      Ties.
    - Veroth
      
      *cries*
    - MightasWell
      
      Dies.
    - echo
      
      vies
Pingback: Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown « Content Curated By Darin R. McClure & a few photos
http://twitter.com/p2jack Jack

http://boards.4chan.org/b/res/401475417

Already a thread on 4chan
Rick Astley

AVG support is really quite friendly. See picture for details.
Anon

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any more bizarre AVG claims copyright over a Rick Astley video/song. It’s crazy times we’re living in.
Anonymous

AVG live support really loved me singing this to them.. so much they didn’t even respond.
- Not Anon
  
  http://www.myfacewhen.net/uploads/3749-i-see-what-you-did-there-no-text.png
Anon

They’ve rustled my jimmies.
Anonymoose

2007? you wish noob. lurk moar
aaaa

The old “Guitar” video from JerryC was also taken down from Youtube due to copyright infringement claims. It was one of the top 5 most visited videos as well.
- Anon
  
  That was taken down because the owner was linking to scam sites through the video
Anon

MSE is the best and does not try to take over your pc….

Seriously this undermines the whole take down request arrangements youtube have, should they not request the person asking to take down any content prove they are in possession of the copyright.
Or can i just log on through a vpn and take down all the content i do not like Seriously youtube you need some forward thinking people running the show and stop bowing down to the copyright czars.
And avg, i stopped using you years ago when you added so much crapware to your installation that it started slowing down my pc. Micrososfts own security suite does the same thing but my pc runs smoothly , even while it is doing a scan. Oh and enjoy the payback for this small mistake you made. :)
- Darkhog
  
  Don’t trust anything from Microsoft. We are working hard on bringing it down, WP7 and metro are part of it, but it’ll take time.
  - Zeroth.ltd.
    
    Just like don’t waste your hard earned money on the overpriced apple products.
    - Neroth
      
      Or the underpriced Canonical products – damn you free operating systems!!!
    - Danny
      
      Ubuntu ftw!
Anonymous

i assume AVG hasn’t had the decency, let alone the balls, to step up to the plate and say why they have done this! even if the site goes back up, wont all the ‘hits’ be eliminated’ for good? that’s 5 years worth!
it’s about time this ridiculous practice stopped. there should be no action taken until proof of the charge(s) is presented. no evidence, things carry on as before. why are those that decide these laws so fucking thick that they cant see the abuse that will come out from them, or they done purposefully to cause as much grief and disruption as possible?
Anononn

??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
- Guest
  
  And now that video will make more money… Maybe it’s a conspiracy.
- http://clysuva.com/ Cly Suva
  
  It’s probably because of that. It seems to be only video left of the song on youtube. And on effing vevo channel, they just felt that they are losing lots of profits because others have uploaded it too.
- €£$€£$
  
  “Unfortunately, this video is not available in Germany
  because it may contain music for which GEMA has not granted the
  respective music rights.
  
  Sorry about that.”Destroy these cunts.
Jimbo

anyone know exactly what the ‘copyright claim’ is or could possibly be by AVG? are they going to try to say that they invented and distributed the video? that could prove interesting!
http://programmation-android.blogspot.fr/ Krimlin

Now 10% of the youtube links on internet will not work anymore…
Ridgway

Since when does AVG own the rick astley song? They should really be able to sue you when you make false copyright claims.
Poop

avg is garbage anyways
- Darkhog
  
  Because AVG stands for AntiVirus Garbage, so you should find out that sooner.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ender-Wiggin/100000885624281 Ender Wiggin

The other day i went looking for the dope growers union song, from SNL in the 70′s…..to find it’s gone from the interwebz. DMCA’d. some bastard decided they were going to steal a bit of our shared heritage….and just like that a piece of history is deleted. Kind of pissed me off.
- Anonymous
  
  So much has been lost because of these shit laws, wiped away forever.
  
  The world is full of miserable bastards unfortunately.
- Anyone
  
  so much of the 20th century has been lost because of copyright
  
  it’s really sad
Bill Hicks (RIP)

“Rick Astley? Have you seen this banal incubus at work? Boy, if this guy isn’t
heralding Satan’s imminent approach to Earth. “Don’t ever wanna
make you cry, never wanna make you sigh, never gonna break your heart” Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that without a dick, buddy. You got a corn
nut! You got a clit! You’re not even a guy! You’re an AIDS germ that got
off a slide! They’re puttin’ music to AIDS germs, they’re puttin’ a
drum machine behind them in a metronome beat and Ted Turner’s colorizing
‘em, God damn it!”
- Not Anon
  
  U mad bro?
  - Ophelia Millais
    
    You should probably do a web or video search for Bill Hicks, bro.
    - Danny
      
      American stand up is so retarded.
Pingback: Notrackingme | Proxy » Blog Archive » Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown
BillOReally

This is BIG NEWS …

Bill O’Reilly speaks out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIcx_rxTstc
me

wtf is this shit fuck avg fuck all this schit now are meme’s not alowed anymore? jezus how fucking far do they go?
that rick rolled guy isnt a singer anymore so why the fuck do they even claim it?
jezus man some people are retarded like hell, and torrentfreak thank you thank you for given me a rick roll *sigh*
Anonymous

How in the name of God does AVG have a copyright claim on that horrific song, anyway?
- Ophelia Millais
  
  Speculation: People posted links to YouTube vids showing how to pirate AVG software. AVG sent a takedown notice to YouTube for each link without actually checking them all. One of the links was a Rickroll.
  
  17 USC § 512(f) allows Google, Rick Astley’s record company, and the uploader to sue AVG for damages, but 1. there probably aren’t any damages, and 2. AVG would argue that they don’t need to check every link because 99.9% of them are exactly what they say they are, not Rickrolls, so they were acting in good faith, which is an exemption from liability under 512(f).
  - Anonymous
    
    I don’t call lying about having a copyright claim on something which isn’t your IP ‘good faith’. A lot of companies have been abusing DCMA in similar regard. Yet more corruption in the copyright mill.
Xxxx

abusing the dmca demands penlites for abuser wrong and criminal use of dmca this case avg
Gggg

AVG got RickRolled over 9000 times and just had enough
Guest

Abolish copyright.
Andrew Lee

Oooh

We’re no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of
You wouldn’t get this from any other guy

I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching, but
You’re too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna play it

And if you ask me how I’m feeling
Don’t tell me you’re too blind to see

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

(Ooh, give you up)
(Ooh, give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching, but
You’re too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna play it

I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Well I have to say that felt pretty good :P Plus I fucking love this song!!! at first it was hate but after a few years of the random Rick Rolls it grew on me.
http://profiles.google.com/orfetheo Orfeas Theofanis

Did the “copyright infrigement” lose them sales?Isn’t Rickroll the reason that song is famous anyway?
Also, why is it that searching rickroll gives you that song in FUCKING VEVO’S CHANNEL?Sorry about the caps, but I hate that VEVO…
- Anyone
  
  rickroll is the reason it is famous again
  
  it was a hit in the 80s
Erthwjim

Maybe we’ll be lucky and AVG did it to show how broken dmca and youtube is and how regulations give certain companies more power than they should.
- Anon
  
  +1
Pingback: Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown | We R Pirates
BadWolf

The Rick roll is so old. Who even cares any more. Rick killed it when he lip synced his own song on that nickelodeon parade float a few years back.
http://www.facebook.com/orphicdragon Trisha Lynn Dragon

Hmm. Conflicted. Hate that farking song but copyright crap like this is bad mmkay?

Guess I shall hold off on how I feel till a response appears from the parties involved.

Really really hate that Em Effing song.
- Anonymous
  
  The Rick Roll is a troll tool. Like various other linkings it’s there just in order to annoy you. Nice trolls use the rick roll. Worse trolls use lemonparty or tub girl.
http://twitter.com/happyizpunjai happy

finally this was the must annoying video ive seen on youtube luv stilll but too much too annoying
Krosis

Yeah, great idea. Remove all means of advertising, wasn’t this whole rickrolling thing what blew new life into Rick’s career?
- Cassquatch
  
  Chuck Norris… Didn’t someone want to publish the Chuck Norris facts in a single volume? Chuck Norris, however, said no, and talked a bit about Jesus and the vaidity of the facts. I wouldn’t like Chuck Norris if it weren’t for thse facts; no reason in hell should he ever win a fight against everyone, esp protagonist Bruce Lee. He doesn’t own the rights to those facts and the property in question is actually the design of the facts vs. the facts themselves. People are too greedy. Yes, THEY have the right to make money just as I have the right to get it for free; “finders-keepers” said the seeder to the leecher. Our species is fighting each other and provoking a war of sorts in court; on the web; it’s going to be stifled, physically, and remain verbal and passive-aggressive in nature on the civil end, since that damn agreement between my ISP and THEM. And, I’d rather value an artist then the artists sh, and the artist here would be the Rickrollers and the song would be the found art placed in a context that exploits the randomness of an eighties song where information-you-were-seeking-was-supposed-to-be. I say, if you can buy it and get for free on the internet, you have free advertising, unless my verbage on anything I download for free should be compensated for any interest I may have had a part in that has or may have resulted in monetary gain for the rights holder. Later, Naders.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Don-Dilly/1624894683 Don Dilly

The irony of all this is that via Vevo, 3 of the big 4 record companies (ie 75% of the RIAA) pick the bones of ‘has been’ artists, trying to squeeze the last drop of licensing revenue out of their material.

The Rickroll meme and its over 50m hits shows what looser or non existant rights controls on the net can do. Something we have been arguing regarding P2P for years.

Left to their own devices, all the record companies could offer Astley was a few bucks a year (if he was lucky) revenue from the inclusion of his old singles on budget 80s hits compilations. I doubt very much if he would see anything from vevo as there would be no specific mention of internet revenues in his contract.

Yet after Astley got in on the joke, he came out of retirement, the Meme created quite a media buzz. The unlicensed use of the video for the meme generated more revenue from commercial tv and radio plays than the vevo hijacking ever could (and the inclusion of ads breaks the meme). The meme generated record sales and direct interest in Astley’s back catalogue leading to Astley himself Rickrolling the Macy’s thanks giving parade with a personal appearance on his own float.

Beat that Vevo. EMI owe 4chan big time.
mark steele

Nice to see this made the mainpage ^.^. Saw it and was like WTF
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Anonymous

And nothing of value was lost..

Kinda makes me happy that the video has been blocked because of the GEMA here.. Overused meme crap.

Still.. why the fuck did AVG take it down..!? It’s not like they own any rights to the song.. or do they?! O_o
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Anonymous

Annnnndddd.. it’s back…

and i was rickrolled by it ^^
Pincerattack

Yes, Drag0nflamez is correct. Beware or you too will be rickrolled by TorrentFreak!!
- Anonymous
  
  The rickroll was a lie!
  
  (we need moar reddit)
Ihicenut

Because AVG is a bunch of huge fucking RETARDS.

And Youtube are retards too.
Why? Did they even bother checking out if AVG really own the rights (!) to that crappy song?
No! They just take things down.
Retards.
http://twitter.com/BrandWitt Brandon Whitfield

The way AVG explains it, it makes sense that they would take it down.

They explained it in a statement: http://tinyurl.com/38dx7s
- Fkvdaedy
  
  basterd xD
- True North
  
  FFS!! got me too. :)
- Anyone
  
  well played
- Icky
  
  This makes it THREE TIMES for me.
  
  AAAGGGGHHHHHHH!
Anon

It’s already back up…
Anonymous

Any random jerk can claim any YouTube video infringes their copyright. The video will go down and stay down, even if the actual copyright holder uploaded it. The claim involves swearing under penalty of perjury that you own the copyright, but no DMCA troll has even been punished in the slightest.

End result: YouTube is worthless as a video host.
townie2

maybe by provoking 4chan AVG want to test their new security software, can’t see any other reason for this. well, test it for them 4chan, lol.
seriously, it was a harmless little prank that never hurt anyone, and was good for a laugh in its day. better get rid of your Xmas Santa Clauses now, the way this copyright stuff is going, we’ll all be sued for it by someone.
Pingback: Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown | Zombie Torrents - Ultimate Torrents Downloads
Sunshine1970

This must be Weird News Wednesday. I’ve now read 3 crazy articles in a row.
1. Principal suspends 64 high school seniors for *biking* to school in Michigan
2. Woman’s iPhone is stolen and the thief is taking pictures of his workplace, a Disney cruise ship.
3. And now the Rick Roll video is DMCA’s by AVG?!

What next? Facebook and Morgan Stanley are bieng sued by shareholders…oh wait…
- IPhone
  
  The stolen iPhone pics are AWESOME!
  
  https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4102695045342.2181863.1221948597&type=3&l=45551c466f#!/media/set/?set=a.4102695045342.2181863.1221948597&type=3&l=45551c466f
radioman

content id works perfectly on youtube ;} use torrents
http://modmyi.com/forums/iphone-4-new-skins-themes-launches/740147-neurotech-hd.html#post5637502 Jay

Now Rickrolling will turn into magnet links to the Rickrollin’ torrent file.
Guest

LOL! AVG rick roll’d us! Making headlines then opening the link back …. people click the link thinking Rick Rolls banned … they get rick rolled >_<

Awsome.
Icky

Thanks Alot TORRENTFREAK!

I JUST GOT RICKROLLED BY THE LINK IN THE ARTICLE!

(I feel dirty)
Locray

Rickrolled by TorrentFreak…
Pingback: Another Bogus Copyright Claim Silences Millions Of Rickrolls (Briefly) | Share Blog
EU Anon

You people seem to forget that we have bigger fish to fry than being rick’rolled by TorrentFreak or anyone else. Read this:

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/action-required-on-crucial-acta-votes-next-week

http://christianengstrom.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/eu-parliament-majority-expresses-support-for-acta/

Don’t you people think this is way more important then being rick rolled? Screw that… i’m not saying that TF did this on purpose to make you forget certain things but most of the comments here, to me at least, seem to make you forget the bigger problem we are facing right now and, instead of trying to do something, you guys (and gals) are forgetting what’s going on in the EU next week.

I’m not saying anything else, at least not for now…
- DutchGuest
  
  I can’t speak for any other TF regulars, but i have sent emails and letters to every related EU politician who’s contact info i could find, urging them to vote against ACTA.
  I’ve joined in on public demo’s and signed every anti ACTA petition i’ve stumbled across.
  All i can do now is wait, and i hope many others have done the same, or will do so in the following days.
Anonymous

The video is actually still up, or put back up. Whatever. I think the media was just mass-rick rolling.
- EU Anon
  
  Not sh!t sherlock…
YARIGHT

ahahahaha hahahahahaha aahahahahahahahaah
AVG copyright hounds
ROFL
man im gonna have ot make my own av software for dummies and …oh god this universe is just going more stupid every day
ahahahaha
“pass me that beer”
loololololllllollloll
Pingback: Copyright killt Rickroll-Meme
Mwhahaha

Uhm a simple case of mistaken identity? It’s fun to see how easily people get on their high horses about such things before they know the full story.

Mobs are so great.
- Guest
  
  Hahahaha, oh my god.
  
  Nobody knows why AVG did this yet, but without knowing the full story you hop on your high horse and assume we’re all a silly mob getting worked up over a case of mistaken identity.
  
  The irony is glorious.
  - Anonymous
    
    Well, the case to be made would rather be how come “mistaken identity” is so easily achieved where takedown notices are concerned.
    
    Sure, it’s highly likely AVG made a big blunder/typo. But in an even remotely sane world AVG would actually have to provide confirmation of ownership – in which case the erronous takedown would be spotted by AVG themselves first.
Guest

And now for some further comedy:

RIAA claims Limewire owes it $72 trillion dollars

http://www.avclub dot com/articles/riaa-claims-limewire-owes-it-72-trillionthats-tril,75555/
(By the way, this actually isn’t a Rickroll)
- Ophelia Millais
  
  That story is from March 2011; not sure why NME & The Onion only just now picked it up. It’s a great one, though. Another for the “$8 billion iPod” bin.
http://twitter.com/daren_gray Daren_Gray

Fine.

Fuck ‘em.

They can have that Astley video. It’s not like the world lacks for crappy and awkward videos from the 80s. The Internet adapts.

I hereby propose, for the consideration of my Internet peers, that Mickrolling officially replaces Rickrolling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ

“South Uh-may-ree-kuuuh!”
- Not Anon
  
  I second that motion.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4jnaznUoQ
  - http://twitter.com/daren_gray Daren_Gray
    
    My favorite part is when Mick just arbitrarily decides to bend down and take a hit off his Diet Coke mid-bop. I almost expect to see Bowie clipping his toenails in the next scene.
http://Not.Telling/ Kr0nZ

AVG and/or TorrentFreak just RickRoll’d the internet
Anonymous

You never know could be someone who has made a dummy account under the AVG banner. It’s been done before. Probably been made by someone who has been Rickroll’d too many times.
Zeroth.ltd.

I have had enough of all these copyright laws and legislation’s stepping in to try and destroy the internet. When will all internet users step in and fight it. All good content is being removed due to selfish money grabbing rich people. Publishers make me laugh, “People are pirating, do whatever possible to stop piracy!”… Raise the prices. Fantastic business plans.
Desu1

Rick Rolling is old. These days people being trolled by Facebook. Especially that middle class guy on CNN who dropped $500k into the stock lol.
Anonymous

Obvious publicity stunt is obvious.
Anonymous

lol, no way dude you have GOT to be kidding me lol
Privacy-Warez.tk
Pingback: AVG pidió a Youtube que quitaran el vídeo original de Rickroll #Fail | GeeksRoom
Annie

The song was a hit,but sorta became kitsch later, with people not admitting they liked the song for fear of being made fun of.

That’s why it became a meme… but funnily enough, I found that at the roller skating rink I work at, teens would ask me to play it (I’m the dj )…but wanted me to play the whole song. They actually liked it!

I wonder if Rick himself told them to put the song back up….’it’s keeping me famous fuckers!!!’

Yeah… :)
SOmeone ELse

Wow, I’m as sick about Rickrolling as you are, but as I doubt AVG has the copyright on that video, they can’t Legally do a takedown. Wonder how much the judge in the eventual lawsuit will slap them for the falsified takedown request.
- Ophelia Millais
  
  It is legal to do a takedown if you are acting in good faith. If 99.9% of links purporting to be for AVG content actually are AVG content, the 0.1% that are Rickrolls or whatever don’t count against you.
Diablo3sweepstakes

If you’re interested in getting a free copy of Minecraft for the XBOX 360 checkout xboxlivegiveaway.tk they’re currently giving away minecraft codes for xbox along with microsoft points! I just got a 800 MSP card and i thought i’d share the site with others:)
Neroth

What next? Symantec issue a take down for Goatse? Avast send DMCA notice for 2 Girls 1 Cup? Where does this madness end?
myrtle

lolwtf
Markporter

well I am German and because of GEMA I am not able to Rick Roll anyone just like no one is able to Rick Roll me (“This video is not available in your country since GEMA blocks any video with any music in it and we don’t use the mute feature because that’s silly” so you aren’t even able to WATCH videos that just contain any song you didn’t even care about sigh)
- DasRoll
  
  Achtung!
  
  You MUST immediately sign up das frei http://www.VPNReactor.com macht schnell!!
  
  Then You Can sehen das RicknRolln schnell right away soon you know.
  
  Hey Hey USA (so ein schönes Land)
  
  -sieg heil :D-
- Anonymous
  
  It’s rather strange when you think about it. Germany has been at the forefront in many cases where civil liberties were on the line – The actions of the german minister of justice when she took the Data Retention Directive to the constitutional court (verfassungsschutzgerecht) made me wish we swedes could steal her for our own government…
  
  At the same time the German “Ordnung muss sein” has given GEMA powers which very few sane countries would or could implement without a widespread riot.
  
  It’s a startling dichotomy. Especially when you look at the raging successes of the german Pirate Party indicating that the german citizenry is getting more and more fed up.
  - Anonymous
    
    Everyone here (that I know of) hates the GEMA.
    They’ve gone as far as requesting licensing fees from kindergardens for the songs they sing there (argued that copying the text for every kid is basically copying the song, requesting licensing fees for every copy).
    
    It’s just plain ridiculous. Music on Youtube is pretty much non-existant, at least most of the stuff from well known artists. Little rule of thumb: if it’s on a VEVO channel, it’s blocked here. All of it. No exception.
    
    Grooveshark closed down too (in January this year). When you visit the website with a German IP, all you get is an error message saying “Due to unreasonably high operating costs, Grooveshark stopped providing this service in Germany”, mentioning the GEMA (suprise!) a couple lines below (Screenshot below)
    
    They link to an alternative called “simfy.de”, but that’s completely junk. You can only listen to 20 hours of music per month for free, and songs you’ve added to your favorites will only play for 30 seconds if they’ve been in your favorites for more than 2 months. No need to mention you get ads between EVERY song on a free account unless you upgrade to a paid one. In other words: Bullshit.
    
    I’m lucky enough to have a little cheapo dedicated server in France (OVH/Kimsufi) with a PW protected proxy running, so I can access most of the stuff from home, but it’s still a painus in the anus and doesn’t change the fact that this blocking madness (and basically the GEMA itself) is just plain wrong.
    
    The *only* positive thing about these blocks is that I (and everyone else in Germany) can’t get rickrolled (all Rick Astley videos blocked)..
    http://i.imgur.com/n9QwH.jpg
    
    http://i.imgur.com/ex5bI.jpg
Can’t tell if (t)rolling…

I can’t confirm that this actually happened… Hmm… Will this be remembered as the day that TorrentFreak rickrolled everyone?
- Techanon
  
  yes, it will… at least I will rememeber it as such.
Max Renn

I clicked the link and got ‘rolled again.
Old School Dude

I like “Rick Rolled” WAAAAY better than the “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” memes, that has the most retarded fanbase since “Halo,” and “Sonic” combined!
Pingback: Rickroll Meme Destroyed By Copyright Takedown « Keshiamfowler's Blog
DEBAUCHERY

IT’S COMPLETE CHAOS!
People are RICKROLL’n themselves and it’s GONE VIRAL!

Cats and Dogs Sleeping Together
iPhone Anarchy on Disney Cruise Ships
HS Principals machine-gunning Students on Bicycles

AND NOW THIS DEBAUCHERY! GOD SAVE US!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU-Uwl7AZ7o&feature=related
DeamonBytes

Man this sucks i used to redirect ppl trying to signup to my tracker to this when signups were closed…. great fun.

* Rejoined channel #services* Topic is ‘®®®®®®® Wheres Rick? ®®®®®®®’
Artischock

AVG Technologies’ entertaining response can be found here.
Artischock

http://thekickback.com/rickroll/rickroll.php
Zap

aaa
http://postimage.org/image/4tv1zccql/
Darkhog

My theory: AVG just want to rickroll people, and thought the best way to rick roll people is to make them rickroll themselves searching for song that got took down.
Pingback: Links, 5/24/12 « naked capitalism
Guest

TF now using stupid troll images in articles? There goes what little credibility TF had left right outta the window. Its now a purely lulz site.
Fail

And zero fucks were given.
No

We’ve all just have been RickRolled by TorrenrtFreak…
Secret Club 1337

barely anyone gives a fuck about rick roll anymore, much less 4chan.
http://twitter.com/SummersJoel SummersJoel

what Barry replied I didnt even know that a student can make $9747 in 4 weeks on the computer. did you read this web site (Click on menu Home more information) http://goo.gl/wrcDi
jannamadden

check out these reviews! http://pidyongsbestlist.blogspot.com/2012/05/favorite-websites.html
Pingback: RickRoll is Gone » Santa Love
Anonymous

There is no way AVG can ever claim ownership of a 1987 music video. Anti-virus versus Music Video. No comparison to link the two.

I do believe getting Rickrolled started earlier than 2007 but without searching for proof I can’t be completely certain. Clearly the Internet has pass long beyond a dodgy music video and victims these days would be more likely to end up with “Two girls, One Cup”

Getting Rickrolled has moved beyond rampant links. For example one music awards service allowed people to vote for their favourite musician. Thousands of people thought it a good joke to vote for Rick Ashley and sure enough he won with the service announcing “Rick Ashley is making a big come back”. It was Rick Ashley himself who had to point out that this music awards service had just been Rickrolled.

I don’t think Rick Ashley would object. Fame is its own reward and getting Rickrolled does make him profit.

Anyway this is clearly more rampant copyright take-down abuse that only highlights that the entire Internet can and often is falsely censored. The flaw is that DMCA law has no clear punishment for false removal of media.
Rev Felix

“It’s a brave move.” Brave is not the word I would use. There’s a difference between bravery and reckless stupidity.
Pingback: Geek Brasil » Vídeo do Rickrolling fica 24 horas fora do ar devido a infração de direitos autorais
Boone Simpson

Yeah, anyone can file a claim, including youtube. Youtube can even “auto-file” a claim based on content ID software. A number of videos we post at my job are of police officers and traffic accidents and occasionally youtube thinks the videos have copyrighted audio (WTF?) and if you do not file a counter claim in 15 or 30 days, they either remove or delete the audio to the video.
Anonymous

“Hopefully there has been some terrible mistake and everything will be sorted out soon”
.
the author obviously doesnt know what happens on youtube at all. any video can be taken down by anyone who has this youtube program bot, im not sure shit is shady, there are people who i know got their whole channel deleted after receiving a threatening pm because of their truth vids. i dont know who these people are, third party or undercover google employees. all i know is youtube is a complete wasteland, the only good way of watching is through hidden links embedded on forums. oh and by the way the “copyright claim by…” is really not relevant they can take any company label they want.
Pingback: Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus | Aspirepad
Pingback: News of ‘Rickroll’ meme death greatly exaggerated | Mobile News Plus
Pingback: Original RickRoll Video Returns to YouTube After 24-Hour Copyright Hiatus | Top PC News from the latest Tech News/Blogs
Anonymous

http://bit.ly/KpDKUP
http://profile.yahoo.com/WZ56AQLBXK4SVP5HCZGLARBHI4 Elena

what Eddie said I am taken by surprise that a stay at home mom can get paid $8890 in a few weeks on the internet. did you see this page (Click on menu Home more information) http://goo.gl/huqnZ
Anonymous

If 2007 on 4Chan is the origin of this phenom – then why did I have friends in college pasing this very thing around in 2000 ?

I’m not sure why 4Chan circa 2007 is getting credit for it But the act of ‘rickroll’ing has been going on long before that.

You do enough searching online and you can find traces of the term going back 2001 – 2000 – 1999.
- Banana
  
  they made ir popular – rockrol is a piece of history, it is the same as destroyng the pyramids in egypt
Eric Post

YouTube does NOT use DMCA notices to pull videos, it uses a claim process which is flawed. Since YouTube is a private company they can do what they like. I’ve received takedown notices on public domain videos.

They are always restored, but it shows the system is broken as it is not people monitored but automatic. I guess Google can’t afford to hire minimum wage people in the US who want jobs to perform a kindergarten task.

DMCA notices ARE legal notices and must conform to the law and companies can be sued and fined for doing false claims. But again YouTube has its own program
Pingback: Meme streets: The day Rickrolling nearly died | Tech Chatter
Guest

Who needs AVG when there is Linux?
Pingback: Vídeo do Rickrolling fica 24 horas fora do ar devido a infração de direitos autorais | Consultoria Jr
Anonymous

http://xvr.in/Xsb
chupam3v3erga

OYE! grab that pedobear whos trying to enter the mainland united states
from a vacation trip in Puerto Rico, who’s possession of a 100%
legitimate non pirated adult movie THAT COMPLIES WITH ANY AND ALL US
LAWS that ensures without question that the actors shown within the film
are of legal age and the public records to prove these facts of their
age are readily accessible to anyone anytime, because we cant read,
follow judicial process, google the films details, call or contact the
dvd production company, or do anything but react to what some TSA agent
got excited about seeing an adult star who looks young to them.

I am a medical doctor practicing for 60 years (avg) and i testify my
life’s worth on the FACT that the person (rick ashley)in these scenes is
by no means shape or form older than 13(our property which is in
violation of copyright infringement).

ok, do you have any last words you sick mutherfucking pedobear who is
going to get your head blown off after we sick these new ball biting
bred dogs on your sick ass?

BLAMcourt room door slams open , in comes little
lupe the 13 year old…. I’m LUPE FUENTES from the film in
question and look mother bitches, I’m 18 in those films, see?!
WHOOPS!!! ok, let the rickrolling commence, my bad?
http://www.benefits-of-cloud-computing.com Alan

Why on Earth defend rick-rolling? What’s good or worthy of defending about it?

The biggest problem with Youtube today is the excessive volume of utterly pants videos that were never worth the bandwidth of uploading, and the whole rick roll thing just adds to that. Google doesn’t mind as they can just stick Adwords on there anyway and heck, maybe Rick Astley vids get more click-thrus, precisely because the video is nothing like the user wanted or expected?

Seriously, it’s not my lack of humor as I can see it was funny at first – but why defend it now, years later? If you rick roll someone today you’re not a prankster, you’re a prick.
Pingback: Game of Thrones Crowned Most Pirated TV-Show of the Season – TorrentFreak | Game of Thrones Blog
Tom

It still has a block in the UK

This video contains content from Channel 5, WMG and Radio e Televisao Record, one or more of whom have blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.
Lalalala

It’s clear they are abusing YouTube’s copyright take-down policies and simply making fake claims. This happens ALL the time to my videos (100% my video and audio).
Midarezaki

It’s gone again.

This time:
“This video contains content from Channel 5, WMG and Radio e Televisao
Record, one or more of whom have blocked it in your country on copyright
grounds.”

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