Copyright lawsuit filed against YouTube for posting 1992 Denny beating video News
Copyright lawsuit filed against YouTube for posting 1992 Denny beating video

[JURIST] The Internet video site YouTube [corporate website] was sued in federal district court Tuesday for alleged copyright infringement related to video of the beating of trucker Reginald Denny [Wikipedia backgrounder] during the 1992 Los Angeles riots. The suit was filed by the Los Angeles News Service, a company founded by helicopter pilot Bob Tur and his wife, who allege that YouTube infringed the video's copyright by allowing the footage to be posted on their site for public viewing. In a statement, YouTube claimed that it is protected from liability by the safe harbor provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) [summary; PDF text], which protect content providers who simply allow copyright material to be transmitted through their site. The video has already been removed from YouTube.

Tur previously sued Reuters over the video, but a $60,000 award was overturned [Los Angeles Business Journal report] by the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [opinion, PDF text]. CNET News has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.