NBC Lawyers Stop Lazy Sunday Viral

Posted on February 17, 2006

Boing Boing reports that NBC lawyers have ordered YouTube to remove the popular Lazy Sunday: Chronicles of Narnia video that appeared on Saturday Night Live.

Hi Tubers! NBC recently contacted YouTube and asked us to remove Saturday Night Live's "Lazy Sunday: Chronicles of Narnia" video. We know how popular that video is but YouTube respects the rights of copyright holders. You can still watch SNL's "Lazy Sunday" video for free on NBC's website.

The video spread around the Internet and blogosphere thanks in part to YouTube code inserts that run the video as well as direct links to the video on YouTube.com. Boing Boing says YouTube received a nastygram from NBC to remove the video.

A source at YouTube informs BoingBoing that NBC recently sent the user-submitted video hosting site a nastygram over the Saturday Night Live "Lazy Sunday: Chronicles of Narnia" video.
That's right -- NBC's lawyers are beating YouTube with a DMCA stick because the viral content distributor helped facilitate NBC's biggest viral hit, ever.
YouTube's blog states, "We know how popular that video is but YouTube respects the rights of copyright holders. You can still watch SNL's Lazy Sunday video for free on NBC's website."
But only Windows users can access the video on NBC.com -- the site in general is kinda buggy for non-Windows users. And the iTunes download costs $2 (see reader comments). Also, it took NBC a while to get the video there in the first place, and when the internet loves your work, it doesn't wait. That's why NBC should be sending flowers and chocolates to YouTube, not love notes from lawyers.

The video can still be found on NBC's SNL website. More about the Lazy Sunday video can be found <here.