The blogging platform WordPress is becoming more forthright in its defense of its publishing partners. Last week, it introduced a “Hall of Shame” to highlight those that abuse copyright law in an attempt to censor content on the internet. Inaugural inductees include singer Janet Jackson, who told WordPress to remove an unflattering image of her singing at the Super Bowl that was inspired by a recent World Cup meme, posted by a blogger:
WordPress says, the image is an obvious case of fair use and Jackson had no right to demand its removal. This type of pushback against overreaching intellectual property claims is significant because WordPress is the world’s most popular blogging platform. Its decision to flex its legal muscle against inappropriate copyright claims thus benefits everyone who uses its service. In November, the company also joined a rare legal challenge that seeks to punish two people behind two unreasonable instances of copyright abuse.
