.@NASCAR removed @TAndersen904's video of the horrifying Drive4COPD 300 crash within minutes of posting. Impressive or concerning?
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) February 23, 2013
The safety fence at the Daytona International Speedway wasn’t quite enough to keep debris from today’s dramatic multi-car pileup from reaching spectators in the stands. Some of those fans captured video of the event and uploaded it to the Internet, but the videos were almost immediately blocked by YouTube on the grounds of a copyright claim by NASCAR. The videos quickly turned up on other sites, and just as quickly ignited a debate on censorship and public relations. Was the blocking of the video just business as usual, or was it an attempt to suppress a newsworthy event?
Wait what? So did a car involved in a NASCAR crash fly through the fence and now te videos are being blocked by YouTube!? #SayItAintSo
— Osman Noor (@OzzyForMayor) February 23, 2013
NASCAR and YouTube now blocking eyewitness clips of the crash taken from the stands. Absolutely ridiculous.
— Cory Bergman (@corybe) February 23, 2013
When debris hits the crowd, NASCAR's precious video rights should be superseded by the right of the crowd to tell their story.
— Cory Bergman (@corybe) February 23, 2013
Big lesson for news websites: Always copy newsworthy YouTube videos, in case of crap takedowns like this.
— Robert Niles (@robertniles) February 23, 2013
Absurd. RT @jaybusbee: Getting Q's about how NASCAR can pull a fan video. NASCAR has rights over ALL video shot at track, pro or amateur.
— Adam Henry (@viewofadam) February 23, 2013
NASCAR is about to have a serious PR problem. It's one thing to pull the copyright card on your video, but fan video? Crosses the line.
— Adam Henry (@viewofadam) February 23, 2013
Not sure which is worse, the appeal from @ap for more video of people being hit by debris at Daytona or the @nascar effort to suppress it.
— Jay Richardson (@_editengine) February 24, 2013
https://twitter.com/g_schrage52/status/305470230480699392
Nascar's attempt to block crash video as well as fact that they have not tweeted any details or information= social media disaster
— Brian Bedol (@brizilla) February 23, 2013
NASCAR had announced a press conference for 7 p.m. to give an update on injuries. Up to 28 fans have been reported hurt. But what about the video? Isn’t that news?
NASCAR may think it has the rights to all fan videos, but it doesn't own the news. Here's what it's trying to censor: http://t.co/lc3bzJVzMn
— Trevor Timm (@trevortimm) February 23, 2013
https://twitter.com/MelWatergirl/status/305462069501759489
@trevortimm They're not trying to censor anything. They just claim rights to all videos of the event.
— Tom Kopacz (@TomKopacz) February 23, 2013
@TomKopacz which is censorship.. they cant own the rights to your personal vids… @trevortimm
— NยცรPєคςє (@NubsPeace) February 23, 2013
@NubsPeace @trevortimm Yes, they can. NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA all do the same thing.
— Tom Kopacz (@TomKopacz) February 23, 2013
Idiots at NASCAR block YouTube video of dangerous crash on "copyright" grounds http://t.co/CSYaHLXQne [Only WE can cash in on crashes!]
— Henry Blodget (@hblodget) February 23, 2013
Incredible/scary fan video from stands of NASCAR crash. Watch quickly before it's taken down. http://t.co/AO5WWeV3Qw! (via @RomiCvitkovic)
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) February 23, 2013
Tyler Andersen, who shot video of a tire hitting a nearby fan in the stands, said he would repost the blocked video — after taking some time for prayer.
Almost died…. Guy had a huge cut on his leg hope he's okay
— Tyler Andersen (@TAndersen904) February 23, 2013
Please pray…. The guy who got hit by a tire looked severely burned
— Tyler Andersen (@TAndersen904) February 23, 2013
@espn closer picture of the tire that came through the fence pic.twitter.com/HScvpGg8V4
— Tyler Andersen (@TAndersen904) February 23, 2013
from the man who took that video
RT @TAndersen904: Thank You Lord for looking out for me today.— brant james (@brantjames) February 23, 2013
All this attention I'm getting is crazy, but this is not about me at all. PLEASE KEEP ALL INJURED IN YOUR PRAYERS.
— Tyler Andersen (@TAndersen904) February 23, 2013
Finally back home, still shaken up. Gonna be at church early tomorrow morning thanking God for keeping me safe.
— Tyler Andersen (@TAndersen904) February 23, 2013
Will repost the video later with all rights to NASCAR. Just got home. Need some time in prayer.
— Tyler Andersen (@TAndersen904) February 23, 2013
* * *
Update:
NASCAR has responded to the controversy with a brief statement.
NASCAR says it blocked eyewitness video of Daytona crash "out of respect for those injured" http://t.co/rdAajlWikD
— The Verge (@verge) February 24, 2013
The fan video of the wreck on the final lap of today’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race was blocked on YouTube out of respect for those injured in today’s accident. Information on the status of those fans was unclear and the decision was made to err on the side of caution with this very serious incident.
NASCAR says it blocked fan vid "out of respect for those injured in today's accident. " Anyone buying that?
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) February 24, 2013
Some are, some aren’t.
OK @nascar, you have a hot minute to save yourself. Repeat: "Earlier, we made a bad call. We respect our fans; they can share their stories"
— Bridget Williams (@bridgetwi) February 23, 2013
I'm sure @NASCAR is blocking videos out of respect to those involved in crash but I'm sure the censorship is going to be perceived wrong.
— BC (@bobbychuck) February 23, 2013
.@BlueChip48 Huge respect for the injured families at NASCAR. That's why the "copyright" claim is so offensive.
— Henry Blodget (@hblodget) February 23, 2013
And maybe, just maybe NASCAR isn't pulling fan videos cause they're jerks, but out of respect to the fans who may not make it
— Senorita Ding Dong (@KaylaJ67) February 23, 2013
* * *
Update:
This is getting interesting. YouTube has reinstated the video, writing, “Our partners and users do not have the right to take down videos from YouTube unless they contain content which is copyright infringing, which is why we have reinstated the videos.”
Whoa: YouTube "reinstates" formerly blocked video of NASCAR fan, ruling that it doesn't infringe any copyright: http://t.co/FIoP2GdMeH
— ErikWemple (@ErikWemple) February 24, 2013
