A work performed by a Government employee in connection with their job is not copyrightable in the US. (The UK has "Crown copyright", but the US has nothing similar.) Most of these people were Government employees speaking on Government business.

Where does YouTube get off taking them down? That's way out of line for Google.

Meanwhile, move them over to PeerTube or something.

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qingcharles 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

* Federal employees

(I've been blocked on FOIAs in Illinois by state and locals claiming wild copyright claims)

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NewJazz 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

The work was recorded prior to him becoming a government employee.

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bigbadfeline 2 days ago | parent [-]

But that work is directly related and highly relevant to his work as a government employee now. If you were right, any politician could silence anyone from speaking about his former transgressions, affairs or whatever.

In fact, a state Rep in California (R) tried that after his bragging was caught by an open mic, he graphically bragged to a colleague about having sex with a lobbyist and then claimed copyright on that "work" and his own name.

That went nowhere, of course.

	▲	TheNewsIsHere 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Although what I’m about to say would be taken to a logical extreme by some, that is just fallacy — It is of course immaterial that someone later becomes a government employee. If we were to pass a law along these lines, then any expert who later becomes a government employee would not be entitled to the protection of prior intellectual property. Barack Obama penned many items prior to the commencement of his government employment. His interest in those pieces where he discussed topics relevant to his interests or expertise in constitutional law is not abridged because he entered public service. In this case with Prasad, there is other nuance, but none of it material to that specific point. A much more fruitful focus would be on the doctrine of fair use and the examination of the credentials and claims of those who do enter public service.