Glenn Beck loses 'raped and murdered' arbitration

By Eriq Gardner

Fox News' Glenn Beck has lost a claim that a website called glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlin1990.com was registered in bad faith and in violation of his trademark rights.

The website was founded by Isaac Eiland-Hall earlier this year in response to a joke on odd-news site Fark about Beck's lack of denial for a non-existent murder/rape. Eiland-Hall argued to WIPO that he registered the website as a satirical critique of Beck's conspiratorial politics.

WIPO's arbitration panel agreed that the website appeared "to be engaged in a parody of the style or methodology that (Eiland-Hall) appears genuinely to believe is employed by (Beck) in the provision of political commentary, and for that reason (Eiland-Hall) can be said to be making a political statement."

The domain name dispute resolution body added Eiland-Hall's speech was "strongly protected" under the First Amendment. Here's the decision.

Having won the case, Eiland-Hall rejoiced by giving the website domain to Beck with a thumb-in-the-nose letter:

"It bears observing that by bringing the WIPO complaint, you took what was merely one small critique meme, in a seas of internet memes, and turned it into a super-meme. Then, in pressing forward (by not withdrawing the complaint and instead filing additional briefs), you turned the super-meme into an object lesson in First Amendment principles...

Rather than choosing to strive for excellence and civic contribution, you simply pander the fears and insecurities of your audience. And in the process, you do them, and us all, a great deal of harm.

Shame on you Mr. Beck..."

The website, glennbeckrapedandmurderedayounggirlin1990.com, is now down.

Comments

[Chris_Wilson]

FYI- the site is still up at http://gb1990.com/ and http://DidGlennBeckRapeAndMurderAYoungGirlIn1990.com Only the original domain was given to Beck.

[duds]

this meme in fact is based on a joke that Gilbert Gottfried did at a roast. i believe he kept implying that Bob Saget (the roastee) has "raped and murdered a girl in 1990," by saying that there was no evidence of this, but by repeating the phrase over and over again.

...whatever: you'd think Beck would have a sense of humor. Being a clown and all.

[Rob]

The Brown Tweed Society has a great 3-part, in-depth piece on this:

http://thebrowntweedsociety.com/2009/11/02/glenn-beck-case-part-1/

Looks like the author of the series was correct.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000237552945]

Glenn Beck tries to rape and murder 1st Amendment and fails http://wp.me/pBfFK-kc - after his earlier attempt to cover up the rape allegations failed - http://wp.me/pBfFK-94

[webify]

The photo of Beck included on this page should be scaled down to a reasonable size for improved page loading time. (If you click on it, you can view the giant, high-resolution version of the picture. Just what you always wanted, I'm sure!)

On the other hand, now I know that Glenn Beck wears a LOT of makeup!

[Nick Catalano]

Welcome to... uhh... last week?

[plurality]

Glenn Beck is an unstable, overly emotional, aging pedophile queen.

[Officer R. Thuglican]

As of yet; Mr Beck has not issued a denial that he committed the crime of rape. We are still awaiting a statement from him.

[Wizard Prang]

Last time I looked, plurality, he does not need to make a statement; it's up to the accusers to prove him guilty.

If they can't, Beck could and should sue them for libel, slander, defamation of character and, potentially, damages.

[Blue Sunflower]

No, Wizard, actually Beck can't sue. The site's been labeled a parody by the law. Ask Jerry Falwell about his attempt to sue Larry Flynt for "accusing" him of having sex with his mother.