EFF makes DMCA scamster swallow a bitter pill

We've been bemoaning the DMCA a lot around Download Squad lately, but here's a tale with a happy -- if schadenfreude -- ending. Michael Crook has become famous around the blog-o-sphere; As a thorn in the side of some high profile blogs.

It all started when Crook landed in the hotseat on the popular Fox News Channel's Hannity and Colmes for his hoax web campaign to reduce the pay of US Troops. Later, when Crook pulled another Internet hoax, scamming personals browsers on Craigslist, screen captures of his earlier appearance made the rounds on a slew of blogs. Crook sent DMCA takedown notices to ISPs hosting blogs which posted screen captures of his appearance; Pictures Crook didn't own the rights to. Nevertheless, he succeeded in using the DMCA to bully and harass bloggers, establishing himself a third time as a first rate Internet griefer. The Troll who would be King.

Sweet justice to see him apologize live before a camera as part of the court settlement. Now, if only we could get a few Viacom executives to do the same. Here's a deal; You bring the execs, I'll bring the camera, capiche?

Tags: 10 Zen Monkeys, 10ZenMonkeys, Boing Boing, BoingBoing, DMCA, Michael Crook, MichaelCrook, news