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Buckie is a small town situated in the north east of Scotland. Bonny place with a lively community and its own football club Buckie Thistle. The football club falls under the jurisdiction of the Highland League.
For two years 15 year old schoolboy David Smith has stoically filmed his beloved Buckie and posted the footage on YouTube for the enjoyment of the elderly, housebound and loyal fans off-shore and abroad. The ten minute clips, complete with team credits, have gained a cult following on the internet but the Highland League has now threatened the schoolboy with a £5,000 fine for breach of copyright.
"I was just setting up at the back of the stand for recording the match. John Grant (the league's secretary) came up and immediately said he was fining me £5,000, saying it was illegal. It was quite alarming. He asked me for my contact details and I'm still waiting to hear if I've definitely been fined. I've done it for two years and I've never been contacted by the league or the SFA. I was stunned," said David.
The president of Buckie FC, Mark Duncan, condemned the treatment of the young fan and insisted he had the club's full support.
This is total nonsense. The young lad faithfully records each match, spends time editing it then posting it to YouTube and some 'jobsworth' comes along and threatens him with a massive fine.
Show your support for David by signing the petition here, it will only take a few seconds. The Highland League does not have a contact email address on its site but there is a list of sponsors you may wish to contact. The more people know about the appalling behaviour of John Grant and the Highland League the better.
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23 comments:
SR,
Just get a message to this young man.
The Highland League CAN NOT under any circumstance just come up and fine him.
They have NO LEGAL POWER to do that.
To levy a fine they must have a court approved order and fine under an act.
To fine this lad would mean a court action for breech of copyright. Now I doubt that the league would do that due to costs and a 25 year old probably has no method of paying 5K.
That was a cheap threat tactic by John Grant.
IPR law is very complex. Just because you have the rights does not stop people filming.
Basically does the Highland League have the broadcast rights to the games..........i bet they dont as to expensive.
Petition duly sohned........arses to a man.
I meant 15 year old
Buckie FC. What a great name! Bet this youngster becomes a deservedly successful film maker and John Grant gets refused tickets to a cup final created from the youngster's success.
Anyway, I thought bullying was tantamount to child abuse?
Signed with the following comment
who gave John Grant (the league's secretary) the right to fine anybody outwith a court of law ?
Fav comment
429. lee cartwright: "John Grant, you are nothing more than a pompous bully. You should be ashamed of yourself. Apologise or resign. "
I don't know how to contact him LotF, but I expect if you wrote 'David Smith c/o Buckie FC' that would get him.
Yes it is bullying, nothing less.
You're right OR, this John Grant should be investigated for child abuse. He doesn't put his email on his website either. Coward.
Thanks banned, I'm going to Twitter it now.
Signed.
Thanks Fido. x
SR,
I've signed, what a sad "little" man. I suppose the lad being under 16 years old is also a minor, imagine being berrated and threatened for your hobby, which actually benefits the community.
CD
Petition signed as requested.
Grant sounds like the kind of man who drinks his bathwater & sucks his socks.
SR, If you wanted to contact him this appears to be his youtube site
http://www.youtube.com/user/buckiejagsman
btw, that petion has gone from 430 sigs to 540+ in just a couple of hours.
Excellent going on the petition. It was at 290 last night when i signed it.
Sad indeed CD and not even brave enough to put an email address on his website.
Tcheuchter, thanks. What a horrible image!
Thanks banned, I will do that. Glad to see the numbers rising. Do wish folk would retweet it on Twitter too.
About the same for me Hammer. Good to see it doubled. I think it needs at least a couple of thousand to make any impact though so those who Twitter, would they mind bringing the article and the petition to the attention of friends please.
I'm angry about this, it's just wrong and if it's legal then the law requires urgent change.
Sorted
Thanks Incoming.
Signed - what a (TV) tube you are Mr Grant (sorry about the pun, couldn't help myself)
Thanks Dram. I've left a wee message on the lad's Youtube site, forgot to put a link to here though. :(
I noticed BBC Scotland picked up the lad's plight at 6.30 last night. Do hope that helped but they never mentioned the petition although they had someone from the Highland League say they were looking into it.
Get rid of John Grant Highland League. If this is his style then he's nothing but a hinderance to your cause.
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