Fred Phelps & copyright laws
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Record Label Battles Homophobe Preacher Over Song
by The Associated Press
Posted: May 18, 2007 - 11:00 am ET
(Topeka, Kansas) A church known nationally for picketing soldiers' funerals is being accused by a music company of violating copyright laws with an Internet video parody of the 1980s song, ``We Are the World.''
A lawyer for Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist church said Thursday the parody, ``God Hates the World,'' is protected under constitutional rights of freedom of speech and religious expression. She said the church will continue to post the video on its website.
Westboro Baptist pastor, Rev. Fred Phelps, has garnered attention in a campaign against homosexuality.
The church contends soldiers' deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for a tolerance of homosexuality in the United States.
``It's all our effort to deliver a faithful message to this generation,'' said Shirley Phelps-Roper, church lawyer and daughter of the pastor.
But Warner/Chappel Music Inc. of Los Angeles said the video infringes on its copyright to ``We Are the World.'' The song raised money for famine relief the video featured some of U.S. music's biggest stars, including Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen.
``According to our records, no request has been made to use the Composition, no authorization has been granted nor has any license been issued for the use of the Composition on the website,'' Kelly Isenberg, the company's director of legal and business affairs wrote in a May 8 letter to the church.
Isenberg wasn't available for comment in her Los Angeles office and didn't return a telephone message.
The parody follows the
We Are the World'' video's format of showing a group of singers - Westboro Baptist members - in front of a microphone. The rewritten lyrics include:You are all a part of the devil's family and the truth, you're all headed straight to hell!''Westboro Baptist's picketing of soldiers' funerals led Congress and 34 states, including Kansas, to enact laws attempting to restrict such protests. It regularly protests at gay and HIV/AIDS events.
Thursday it said it would demonstrate at the funeral of Jerry Falwell.
365Gay.com 2007 -
If you want to be really disgusted, have a look at his websites;
hXXp://www.godhatesfags.com/
hXXp://www.godhatesamerica.com/
hXXp://www.godhatessweden.com/
hXXp://www.godhatescanada.com/
All but a few of the members of his church, are his own family members. Talk about inbreeding.
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What a sick people!And those pages - well I was laughing almost all the time (especially at the Sweden one) - maybe I'm too young to take seriously that bullshit, which was definitely created by someone with the IQ that my dog has. Anyway, I was at Sweden once having a great time on a vacation there and people there were really fantastic. I was wondering how can they be so nice and open-minded (so different from people in my country) and then I found that Sweden people are much less manipulated by religion.
Sending a big hug to all Swedish fellows here 
And raphjd don't let those freaks to sadden on disgust you - just ingore them! 
XOXOXO,
Gauss
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i've seen enough after the first link, and watching the video. :sick:
i hope warner has decided to sue them!
butchering that song, they should be sued for their shit singing voices alone.
that family has very poor reading comprehension, way to twist the bible to suit your cult.
they must not have read that part about not judging people and how it's not their job.
i'm tired of nuts who think they somehow have the right to speak for god, or that EVERYTHING in a bible is fact and came directly from god.All but a few of the members of his church, are his own family members. Talk about inbreeding.
LOL
maybe a nice defect from inbreeding will render that family sterile, i hope so. :yes:
they should really STOP breeding!
having little kids hold those stupid signs full of hate.
thats the saddest thing, forcing their twisted beliefs on their children and not allowing them to develop their own views.
poor kids might miss out on getting to know some great people and life in general.we should start a site called God Hates The Phelps.
he must, look at their lives. :lol: -
Not Bad
:lol: -
Holly shit… I can't believe it...
Isn't this some kind of hate crime? I think i am going to do a little covert action aimed at the god hates fag site... or I could reedit and distribute thier videos with gay porn as the video? lol...
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Record Label Battles Homophobe Preacher Over Song
The church contends soldiers' deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan are God's punishment for a tolerance of homosexuality in the United States.I wonder what they would think of the idea that it was because of the tolerance of people like Phelps, his crew, and their actions. He's also disowned one of his sons for being gay, denying his existence. It certainly would be a tough call, if Dad discovered he needed a kidney or something.
Thursday it said it would demonstrate at the funeral of Jerry Falwell.
I was wondering why they would do such a thing, but then found Falwell is often credited with referring to Phelps as "a first-class nut"
There's something that's just wrong about a group that has nothing better to do than picket people's funerals and spread hatred around the world.
For more info on this group, check out link://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church
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I think I found my new bumper sticker
Two days after the September 11th attacks, a lone 19-year old named Jared stood on the street corner facing the church holding up a cardboard sign that said "Not today Fred." In two days, about 90 people joined him, waving American flags and anti-hate signs. Since then, "Not today Fred" has become a commonly used motto for counter protests against Phelps.
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yngmstr, I wouldn't want to give him that much power over the rear end of my car. Of course, I can't help but think it would clash with the Paws and Stripes or the rainbow.
On the other hand, "Wrong-Said-Fred" could come out with one of those catchy tunes… I can almost hear it now.
I'm too 'phobic for my son, too 'phobic for my son,
son's going to leave me.I'm too 'phobic for fair use, too 'phobic for fair use,
So go away Warner Music
And I'm too 'phobic for Tehran, too 'phobic for Tehran,
Kabul and Sweden.And I'm too 'phobic for your mourning,
Too 'phobic for your mourning,
So watch me picket funeralsI'm a preacher, you know what I mean
And I spread my vile hate from the pulpit,
Yeah from the pulpit, from the pulpit yeah,
I spread my vile hatred from the pulpitI'm too 'phobic for the Bar, too 'phobic for the Bar,
Too 'phobic by far
And I'm too hateful for the Klan,
Too hateful for the Klan, what do you think about thatI'm a preacher you know what I mean
And I spread my vile hate from the pulpit
Yeah from the pulpit, from the pulpit yeah,
I spread my vile hatred from the pulpit.I'm too 'phobic for my too 'phobic for my too 'phobic for my
'Cos I'm a preacher you know what I mean
And I spread my vile hate from the pulpit
Yeah from the pulpit, from the pulpit yeah,
I spread my vile hatred from the pulpitI'm too 'phobic for my cat, too 'phobic for my cat
Poor pussy poor pussy cat
I'm too 'phobic for my son, too 'phobic for my son
son's going to leave meAnd I'm too 'phobic for this song
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lol… that is great, I just watched a special on them from the BBC, Americans Most hated Family, and I am glad to say that for the most part the rest of the yanks hate them as much as I do, they get flipped off and yelled at, and get things thrown at them....
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Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.
The federal jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.
The church and three of its leaders - Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebekah Phelps-Davis, 46 - were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.
Of course, the Phelps clan plans to appeal and are confident the verdict will be overturned.
