Under the DMCA, its illegal to file a fraudulent takedown notice, but Google provides the big studios like Universal with a special user interface for performing takedowns, and Universal has argued that takedowns which use this interface don't fall under the DMCA, and so there is no legal consequence for fraudulent misuse of the system. Universal has also argued that its OK for them to file a DMCA take down when they know that the victim is making a fair use of the material, and the court challenge to that shocking assertion has dragged along since 2008 without a final resolution because the system doesn't like it when individual citizens challenge the power of wealthy institutions. With these two legal interpretations behind it, Universal has proceeded to maliciously file takedown notices against legitimate news programs that are reporting on the "megaupload" controversy!!

This is no holds barred censorship of legitimate speech on the Internet in order to supress dissent.

Remember kids, the laws don't apply to the rich, only to the little people!

But UMG apparently continued its takedown campaign, targeting an episode of Tech News Today that included a clip from the video in its coverage of the controversy. The host, Tom Merritt, says he filed a counter-notice under the DMCA, but as of Wednesday evening the show had not been restored. Under the DMCA, it will take 10 days for the video to go back up. "In 10 days a daily news show is worthless," he told the Verge, "so Universal was able to censor this episode of Tech News Today."