Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 296-11 Filed 03/24/23 Page 1 of 3
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`EXHIBIT 10
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`to the Declaration of Chenyuan Zhu
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`EXHIBIT 10
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`to the Declaration of Chenyuan Zhu
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`Has copyright become a new weapon against online media? - Coda Story
`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 296-11 Filed 03/24/23 Page 2 of 3
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`DISINFORMATION
`
`Has copyright become a new weapon against
`online media?
`Fake accustations have led to video reports on Azerbaijan being
`pulled from YouTube
`
`BY KATIA PATIN
`
`8 JANUARY 2018
`
`DISPATCH
`
`YouTube’s copyright rules are being abused by the Azerbaijan government in an attempt to censor content from the global video-sharing site according to one of
`the country’s few independent news services.
`
`The Meydan TV network says four of its video reports, which highlighted allegations of official corruption, were removed on the grounds that they infringed
`YouTube’s copyright rules. And under the Google-owned giant’s terms, this brought the channel close to being taken off the site altogether.
`
`YouTube is one of the few remaining mediums Meydan TV has for reaching audiences in Azerbaijan. The government blocked its website last year, and it has
`also jailed the network’s journalists.
`
`It produces dozens of videos about a wide range of issues. But the channel’s director, Emin Milli, says it was just four pieces that were targeted — which included
`reports on the financial dealings of the country’s autocratic president Ilham Aliyev and his family, the state oil company and allegations of police abuses. “These
`were not just some random videos,” he says. (Disclosure: Meydan TV is a member of Coda’s network of editorial partners). And Milli is adamant that the network
`either owned all the footage itself, or had the rights to use it.
`
`Meydan TV says it was a company called Muse Network — which partners with YouTube and helps channels promote their content — that filed the complaints.
`The company is actually based in Turkey, but has an office in the Azeri capital, Baku. However, Milli is convinced that the Azeri government was behind the
`intervention. “It was so organized. It was so systematic.”
`
`Muse Network’s Baku office says the accusations are unfounded (see update below). “The state does not engage in such small work,” said its Azerbaijan director,
`Shahriyar Taghizade, in a series of text messages. “This is wrong thinking to blame the state in everything.”
`
`He also denied filing the copyright complaints against Meydan TV, saying they were due to an “automatic” technical error in YouTube’s systems. But he then
`restored the videos, which he pointedly described as: “lying and self-fiction fantasy films.”
`
`The same company also played a role in a similar incident involving the Azeri service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Last weekend, its staff
`discovered that six of its videos had been removed from YouTube after being flagged by Muse Network for alleged copyright violation. Ilkin Mammadov, director
`of RFE/RL’s Azeri service, says there was a note on the videos saying they had been “manually detected.” After complaining to the company, he says their videos
`were also restored.
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`https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/information-war/has-copyright-become-a-new-weapon-against-online-media/
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`Has copyright become a new weapon against online media? - Coda Story
`Case 3:20-cv-04423-JD Document 296-11 Filed 03/24/23 Page 3 of 3
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`The Azeri government has also blocked RFE’s website. And both media companies see their problems with alleged copyright infringement as part of a continuing
`government campaign against them. This is a new kind of online interference, according to Mammadov. “They create disruption for a few hours, and audiences
`run if they see you are blocked,” switching to different channels.
`
`But using copyright claims to disrupt content is a perfect tactic, according to Mammadov. Complaints can easily be overlooked and left unchallenged. But under
`YouTube’s policies that can amount to an admission of guilt. After three strikes, or violations, it can block a channel for good.
`
`Though both the RFE and Meydan TV videos have been restored, Milli is concerned that the threat to his network’s content remains. At the moment, he says
`YouTube is “failing badly” in policing its own rules.
`
`Correction and update: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Muse Network is an Azeri company. Muse Network has asked us to make clear
`that it is a Turkish company based in Istanbul, with an office in Baku, Azerbaijan. In a statement, the company said an “irresponsible employee” in its Baku office
`had removed the Meydan TV videos and that it respects “the freedom of speech principle that YouTube embraces.” The statement added that all “necessary legal
`actions” were being taken against the employee.
`
`The story you just read is a small piece of a complex and an ever-changing storyline that Coda covers relentlessly and with singular focus. But we can’t do it
`without your help. Show your support for journalism that stays on the story by becoming a member today. Coda Story is a 501(c)3 U.S. non-profit. Your
`contribution to Coda Story is tax deductible.
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`Support Coda
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`Katia Patin is Coda's multimedia editor.
`
`@katia_patin
`
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`https://www.codastory.com/disinformation/information-war/has-copyright-become-a-new-weapon-against-online-media/
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