American evangelist claims copyright on public domain videos
{{date|September 20, 2007}}
[[Image:Kent Hovind.jpg|thumb|right|Mr Hovind{{Image source|[http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/guestwriters/stn/hovind1.html A Barnett]}}]]
Evangelist [[w:Kent Hovind|Kent Hovind]]'s ministry filed several [[w:DMCA|DMCA]] copyright complaints on [[w:YouTube|YouTube]] causing the video-sharing website to ban several users. Hovind, who is now serving ten years in federal prison, turned Creation Science Evangelism (CSE) over to his younger son, Eric Hovind, in January 2007. 

In early September CSE claimed copyrights on critical videos that had material produced by Hovind and at least one video that contained no Hovind/CSE material. However, CSE's website stated, "''[[w:public domain|none of the materials ... are copyrighted]], so feel free to copy these and distribute them freely''." This is a point of contention since CSE is now claiming copyright on material to remove critical analysis. 

The [[w:Rational Response Squad|Rational Response Squad]], one of the accounts banned by YouTube, has pledged to sue Hovind/CSE. Last year at Hovind's trial the [[Evangelist Kent Hovind's tax trial begins|prosecution and CSE employees noted that CSE was not a church nor was it operating as a legally licensed business]].

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.wired.com/entertainment/theweb/news/2007/09/youtube_dmca
|title=Creationist vs. Atheist YouTube War Marks New Breed of Copyright Claim 
|author=Rob Beschizza 
|pub=Wired (magazine)
|date=September 25, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=42540
|title=YouTube backs creationist complaints 
|author=Nick Farrell 
|pub=The Inquirer
|date=September 21, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070919-dr-dino-uses-dmca-takedowns-on-critics-admits-to-mistakes.html
|title=Creationists, atheists battle over copyrights, criticism, and the DMCA
|author=Nate Anderson 
|pub=Ars Technica 
|date=September 19, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/09/youtube-support.html
|title=YouTube Bans Anti-Creationist Group Following DMCA Claim
|author=Rob Beschizza
|pub=Wired (magazine)
|date=September 16, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://science.slashdot.org/science/07/09/15/1838232.shtml
|title=Creationists Silence Critics with DMCA 
|author=
|pub=Slashdot
|date=September 15, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rationalresponders.com/forum/rational_response_squad_alerts/rational_response_squad_alerts/9978
|title=We're ready to help sue Creation Science Evangelism Ministries
|author=
|pub=Rational Response Squad
|date=September 11, 2007}}

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[[Category:Kent Hovind]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Copyright]]
Mr Hovind
Evangelist Kent Hovind's ministry filed several DMCA copyright complaints on YouTube causing the video-sharing website to ban several users. Hovind, who is now serving ten years in federal prison, turned Creation Science Evangelism (CSE) over to his younger son, Eric Hovind, in January 2007. 

In early September CSE claimed copyrights on critical videos that had material produced by Hovind and at least one video that contained no Hovind/CSE material. However, CSE's website stated, "none of the materials ... are copyrighted, so feel free to copy these and distribute them freely." This is a point of contention since CSE is now claiming copyright on material to remove critical analysis. 

The Rational Response Squad, one of the accounts banned by YouTube, has pledged to sue Hovind/CSE. Last year at Hovind's trial the prosecution and CSE employees noted that CSE was not a church nor was it operating as a legally licensed business.
Kent Hovind United States North America Christianity Crime and law Copyright