News: Atheists Blast Creationists in Copyright Battle.

Atheists Blast Creationists in Copyright Battle
By
Nathan Black
Christian Post Reporter
Fri, Sep. 28 2007 08:09 AM ET

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070928/29487_Atheists_Blast_Creationists_in_Copyright_Battle.htm

A group of outspoken atheists has blasted a creationist ministry for
allegedly false copyright claims after recent YouTube posts attacking
creationism were pulled from the popular Web site.

"We believe that the actions of Creation Science Evangelism Ministries
are meant to silence critics that can prove their unscientific
statements ... well ... unscientific," said a statement on the
Rational Response Squad Web site. "We feel as if this act to silence
us should be countered."

YouTube had taken down earlier this month numerous videos containing
content from the Creation Science ministry and videos criticizing the
group after receiving several take down copyright notices. The popular
Web site also suspended Rational Response Squad's account.

DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) requests were submitted to
YouTube as the creationist group claimed copyright ownership of the
material that was used by the atheist group to criticize the ministry.
DMCA, passed in 1998, limits Internet service providers from copyright
infringement liability but requires them to promptly remove material
from their Web sites that appears to constitute copyright
infringement.

Brian Sapient, who heads the Rational Response Squad, plans to file
suit, arguing that the material they used was fair use within the
boundaries of copyright law.

The atheist group's account was recently reinstated and their videos
were reposted along with a host of new posts where the squad and
supporters denounce the ministry and claim the recent actions were
attempts to silence critics.

"Our right to speak out about the irrationality of religion is the
same right you are afforded to speak about exactly the opposite," said
the atheist group.

Creation Science Evangelism Ministries is led by Kent Hovind, who is
well known for his creation science seminars, which are taped and
widely distributed. His self-titled "Hovind Theory" which includes a
literal reading of the biblical account of Noah is highly
controversial among both atheists and creationists. The Rational
Response Squad frequently quotes Hovind in their argument for
encouraging the public to use the Creation Science content and saying
"our material is not copyrighted."

The atheists further use profane language while mocking Hovind in the
YouTube posts.

Hovind is currently serving a 10-year term in jail for failing to pay
$845,000 in employee-related taxes. He was found guilty in November
2006 on 58 federal counts. Hovind had argued that his ministry was tax
exempt and wrote the IRS many times asking them why he was wrong if,
in fact, he was wrong, according to The Conservative Voice. He did not
get a response and in January was given 10 years in federal prison.

Meanwhile, the Rational Response Squad is currently entangled in
several other copyright disputes.

The atheist group has also made a number of appearances in the media
in more recent months, having this year debated Christian evangelists
Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron on national television over scientific
evidence for God?s existence. They also launched last year the
controversial "Blasphemy Challenge" campaign which urges the
irreligious to post videos of themselves on YouTube deliberately
blaspheming the existence of God and the Holy Spirit ? the one sin the
group identifies in the Bible as unforgivable.

Christians, in response, have launched counter campaigns such as the
"Praise the Lord Challenge," posting public testimonies of themselves
professing faith in the Bible and taking a stand for Jesus Christ.

--
Bob.

.

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