Michael Moore film Planet of the Humans removed
from YouTube
British environmental photographer’s copyright claim
prompts website to remove film that has been condemned by climate scientists
Jonathan
Watts
@jonathanwatts
Published
onTue 26 May 2020 01.33 BST
YouTube has
taken down the controversial Michael Moore-produced documentary Planet of the
Humans in response to a copyright infringement claim by a British environmental
photographer.
The movie,
which has been condemned as inaccurate and misleading by climate scientists and
activists, allegedly includes a clip used without the permission of the owner
Toby Smith, who does not approve of the context in which his material is being
used.
In
response, the filmmakers denied violating fair usage rules and accused their
critics of politically motivated censorship.
Smith filed
the complaint to YouTube on 23 May after discovering Planet of the Humans used
several seconds of footage from his Rare Earthenware project detailing the
journey of rare earth minerals from Inner Mongolia.
Smith, who
has previously worked on energy and environmental issues, said he did not want
his work associated with something he disagreed with. “I went directly to
YouTube rather than approaching the filmmakers because I wasn’t interested in
negotiation. I don’t support the documentary, I don’t agree with its message
and I don’t like the misleading use of facts in its narrative.”
Planet of
the Humans director Jeff Gibbs said he was working with YouTube to resolve the
issue and have the film back up as soon as possible.
He said in
a statement: “This attempt to take down our film and prevent the public from
seeing it is a blatant act of censorship by political critics of Planet of the
Humans. It is a misuse of copyright law to shut down a film that has opened a
serious conversation about how parts of the environmental movement have gotten
into bed with Wall Street and so-called “green capitalists.” There is
absolutely no copyright violation in my film. This is just another attempt by
the film’s opponents to subvert the right to free speech.”
Planet of
the Humans, which has been seen by more than 8 million people since it was
launched online last month, describes itself as a “full-frontal assault” on the
sacred cows of the environmental movement.
Veteran
climate campaigners and thinkers, such as Bill McKibben and George Monbiot,
have pointed out factual errors, outdated footage and promotion of myths about
renewable energy propagated by the fossil fuel industry. Many are dismayed that
Moore – who built his reputation as a left-wing filmmaker and supporter of
civil rights – should produce a work endorsed by climate sceptics and
right-wing thinktanks.
Several
have signed a letter urging the removal of what they called a “shockingly
misleading and absurd” documentary. Climate scientist Michael Mann said the
filmmakers “have done a grave disservice to us and the planet” with
distortions, half-truths and lies.
On Moore’s
official YouTube channel, the usual link to the film has been replaced by a
page noting “Video unavailable. This video is no longer available due to a
copyright claim by a third party.” On the Planet of the Humans website, the
link to the full movie is also dead, though the trailers and other video
material are functioning as normal.
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