Uploaded July 2008 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This is a series of videos about a dispute between Greg Solomon and Myrealitybytes that erupted after Greg used clips of Myrealitybytes' video to paint renetto as a plagiarist. Myrealitybytes sent a DMCA to Youtube and Youtube removed Greg's video. I examine whether renetto is a plagiarist and whether this was the proper use of copyright law.
Renetto's video: "TUBE IT" - The UNofficial YouTube Anthem
youtube.com/watch?v=80yQ4RUP-Mw
The credits at the end of Renetto's video says "Written, Composed and Performed by Renetto".
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"renetto's toy" by MyRealityBytes shows that a major portion of the music that renetto used was in existence well before renetto wrote the "Tube It" song.
youtube.com/watch?v=rke953hXAVw
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MyRealityBytes wrote to GregSolomon asking him to view her video. Greg jumped to the conclusion that most of us would jump to upon watching MyRealityBytes' video—that Renetto had stolen a major part of the music. Greg made a video in which he STRONGLY hinted that renetto was a plagiarist. (Greg did not claim this as a fact, but the hint was so strong that most people would come away from that video believing that renetto did indeed plagiarize.
MyRealityBytes did not like the way Greg Solomon used her clips in his video, so she asked Greg to take his video down, and when he didn't she made this video:
"Greg Solomon Is A YouTube Bully"
youtube.com/watch?v=gyGwrOYNteM
Pay close attention to the comments on this video. MyRealityBytes summed it up her feelings in the following two comments:
"I also have a strong belief in what is right and what is wrong. Solomon used my video without my permission - which is wrong. Solomon says that I am accusing renetto of plagarism, when in fact, it is Solomon himself who is making that accusation. So that makes Solomon a liar - which is wrong. Solomon used my video to make me look like an ass - which is wrong."
"So everyone should just be able to use everyone else's videos whenever we feel like it? I don't think so........."
Myrealitybytes sent a DMCA complaint to Youtube and Youtube removed the video. Greg Solomon sent a counter notice, so the video should be back up in about 10 business days, unless Myrealitybytes informs Youtube that she is suing Greg.
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Renetto probably should have been more thorough in crediting where he got his sound loops from, but I don't think what he did rises to the level of plagiarism. He explained how he made his song in the video entitled "How to build a song with 'GarageBand'"
youtube.com/watch?v=iSIyXUE5h-k
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Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video
American University School of Communication Center for Social Media
centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video
"...the cultural value of copying is so well established that it is written into the social bargain at the heart of copyright law. The bargain is this: we as a society give limited property rights to creators, to reward them for producing culture; at the same time, we give other creators the chance to use that same copyrighted material without permission or payment, in some circumstances. Without the second half of the bargain, we could all lose important new cultural work just because one person is arbitrary or greedy.
Copyright law has several features that permit quotations from copyrighted works without permission or payment, under certain conditions. Fair use is the most important of these features. It has been an important part of copyright law for more than 150 years. Where it applies, fair use is a right, not a mere privilege. In fact, as the Supreme Court has pointed out, fair use keeps copyright from violating the First Amendment. As copyright protects more works for longer periods than ever before, it makes new creation harder. As a result, fair use is more important today than ever before."
---------------------------------------
To understand why this was an improper use of the DMCA you must understand the purpose of copyright law and what constitutes Fair Use.
The Purpose of Copyright Law:
themaskedanalyst.com/The%20Purpose%20of%20Copyright%20Law.htm
On Fair Use:
themaskedanalyst.com/Fair%20U
This is a series of videos about a dispute between Greg Solomon and Myrealitybytes that erupted after Greg used clips of Myrealitybytes' video to paint renetto as a plagiarist. Myrealitybytes sent a DMCA to Youtube and Youtube removed Greg's video. I examine whether renetto is a plagiarist and whether this was the proper use of copyright law.
Renetto's video: "TUBE IT" - The UNofficial YouTube Anthem
youtube.com/watch?v=80yQ4RUP-Mw
The credits at the end of Renetto's video says "Written, Composed and Performed by Renetto".
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"renetto's toy" by MyRealityBytes shows that a major portion of the music that renetto used was in existence well before renetto wrote the "Tube It" song.
youtube.com/watch?v=rke953hXAVw
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MyRealityBytes wrote to GregSolomon asking him to view her video. Greg jumped to the conclusion that most of us would jump to upon watching MyRealityBytes' video—that Renetto had stolen a major part of the music. Greg made a video in which he STRONGLY hinted that renetto was a plagiarist. (Greg did not claim this as a fact, but the hint was so strong that most people would come away from that video believing that renetto did indeed plagiarize.
MyRealityBytes did not like the way Greg Solomon used her clips in his video, so she asked Greg to take his video down, and when he didn't she made this video:
"Greg Solomon Is A YouTube Bully"
youtube.com/watch?v=gyGwrOYNteM
Pay close attention to the comments on this video. MyRealityBytes summed it up her feelings in the following two comments:
"I also have a strong belief in what is right and what is wrong. Solomon used my video without my permission - which is wrong. Solomon says that I am accusing renetto of plagarism, when in fact, it is Solomon himself who is making that accusation. So that makes Solomon a liar - which is wrong. Solomon used my video to make me look like an ass - which is wrong."
"So everyone should just be able to use everyone else's videos whenever we feel like it? I don't think so........."
Myrealitybytes sent a DMCA complaint to Youtube and Youtube removed the video. Greg Solomon sent a counter notice, so the video should be back up in about 10 business days, unless Myrealitybytes informs Youtube that she is suing Greg.
--------------------------------------
Renetto probably should have been more thorough in crediting where he got his sound loops from, but I don't think what he did rises to the level of plagiarism. He explained how he made his song in the video entitled "How to build a song with 'GarageBand'"
youtube.com/watch?v=iSIyXUE5h-k
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video
American University School of Communication Center for Social Media
centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video
"...the cultural value of copying is so well established that it is written into the social bargain at the heart of copyright law. The bargain is this: we as a society give limited property rights to creators, to reward them for producing culture; at the same time, we give other creators the chance to use that same copyrighted material without permission or payment, in some circumstances. Without the second half of the bargain, we could all lose important new cultural work just because one person is arbitrary or greedy.
Copyright law has several features that permit quotations from copyrighted works without permission or payment, under certain conditions. Fair use is the most important of these features. It has been an important part of copyright law for more than 150 years. Where it applies, fair use is a right, not a mere privilege. In fact, as the Supreme Court has pointed out, fair use keeps copyright from violating the First Amendment. As copyright protects more works for longer periods than ever before, it makes new creation harder. As a result, fair use is more important today than ever before."
---------------------------------------
To understand why this was an improper use of the DMCA you must understand the purpose of copyright law and what constitutes Fair Use.
The Purpose of Copyright Law:
themaskedanalyst.com/The%20Purpose%20of%20Copyright%20Law.htm
On Fair Use:
themaskedanalyst.com/Fair%20U
