If you are on Twitter as a cricket fan, it is unlikely that you don’t follow @robelinda2. With immeasurable old videos in his database, Rob Moody (or @robelinda) has kept cricket fans engaged and entertained for quite a while. During the lockdown period, he has even catered to individual video requests, enthralling fans who have been deprived of watching footages from old matches.
*STUNNING OLD GOLD ALERT!* Feast your eyes on this gorgeous innings by Saeed Anwar, sumptuous driving and glorious timing for days, what a magnificent player. 176 of the very best runs, in 1996 vs England. CERTIFIED CLASSIC OLD GOLD! pic.twitter.com/AaTuGCeTNe
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) March 13, 2020
On Tuesday morning, however, he was sent a copyright violation notice by Cricket Australia/Copyright Integrity International, asking him to take down all videos he has uploaded and to refrain from posting more. This, despite him doing all this work for no fee.
So I’m told to delete every cricket video I’ve ever uploaded to Twitter, over the past 11 years…..
You have to laugh really! Just suspend my account and be done with it, as if I’m going to go and find all 2000+ videos since 2009 and delete them🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/cdlIVk7u28
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) June 15, 2020
This was a crap start to the day
Got a stack of DMCA takedown removal emails from the legal team from Copyright Integrity International, several of my cricket footage Tweets were removed,and my account was locked
I’ll keep my footage to myself in the future, unfortunately pic.twitter.com/wlFnnCupDo
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) June 15, 2020
I’ve always studied what they do purely to avoid any trouble. That’s how my YT channel has survived a decade. But it’s never safe. I go to some lengths to ensure each video is as old as possible
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) June 15, 2020
Immense support followed for Moody with several fans, including internaional players and Australia cricket captain, Aaron Finch, himself voicing support.
Utterly ridiculous.
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) June 16, 2020
The word gets overused in sport but this is a proper disgrace. Rob has done more to promote the love of cricket – for free – than anyone ever employed by Cricket Australia.
And still CA will let some mercenaries threaten to destroy all of his work.
Sort out your house, CA. https://t.co/WPdvymcx9P
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) June 16, 2020
Seriously??? Love your work Rob!! https://t.co/YMZFnoMtzo
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) June 16, 2020
Cricket boards: “Why is the game’s popularity waning? What can we do to fix it?”
Also cricket boards: “How dare you upload great footage of old matches that proliferates people’s enjoyment of the game?! Delete it now!” https://t.co/i80ov6pgMe
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) June 16, 2020
There were even requests to Cricket Australia to employ him.
Cricket powers should pay you to post these videos as it promotes the game. Without doubt your posts helped me regain my interest in cricket over the years.
No spin.
No marketing.
No commercial agenda.— Andrew Jarvis (@KinematicTbredS) June 15, 2020
@CricketAus @BCCI @ICC obviously none of you are near capable of curating with such care. Do the right thing and pay this bloke for this yoeman service. Make it official. Share the benefits.
— Ani #TimeForGoodTrouble🧢 (@Anirudhmech) June 15, 2020
The very kind Geoff Lemon enquired with Cricket Australia head, Earl Eddings, who wasn’t aware of the same and promised to look into it. It was apparently the copyright enforcement firm that made the moves without Cricket Australia’s awareness.
Alright, I’ve just asked CA chair Earl Eddings about this. He says he loves Rob’s work and wasn’t aware of this copyright action, but will look into it.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) June 16, 2020
Soon enough, Cricket Australia had moved the notice against Moody, and put out an official statement that the copyright claims were retracted and that it was made in error.
Some good news: The copyright claims against @robelinda2 were made in error and have been retracted. The videos should be back up and running soon.
We’ve got no plans to shut down Rob’s old gold and will follow up on the processes around this.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 16, 2020
The next hour or two.
🙂
Thank you!!! https://t.co/JFpOxX7bX9 pic.twitter.com/QzeTrwHUQA
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) June 16, 2020
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi