Science Avengers … ASSEMBLE!
Next up on the docket is Beastie Boys v. GoldieBlox, Inc. in the 4th Circuit Court for “Ridiculous Applications of Copyright Law”
You know that amazing ad for GoldieBlox engineering toys? The one that features three young girls busting up our pretty pink princess toy culture using one of the greatest Rube Goldberg setups ever devised? The one that has a chance to be played during the Super Bowl, so that people everywhere can see the value of promoting STEM education in young girls’ lives?
Well, the Beastie Boys don’t like it. GoldieBlox produced a parody version of the Beastie Boys’ hit song “Girls” for that ad, and the Boys of Beasthood are going after them for copyright infringement.
GoldieBlox is claiming “fair use” in a counter-filed court claim (or whatever it’s called, I’m a scientist, not a lawyer), which I actually think GBlx have a pretty good case for, but I’m not going to bore you with legal mumbo-jumbo. This is made especially ironic by the fact that the original Beastie Boys song has, shall we say, a decidedly less than flattering view of women.
Inside the GoldieBlox court filing, I found this sick burn directed at the Beastie Boys’ original lyrics compared to the inspiring GoldieBlox version:
In the lyrics of the Beastie Boys’ original song, girls are limited (at best) to household chores, and are presented as useful only to the extent they fulfill the wishes of the male singers. The girls are objects. The GoldieBlox Girls Parody Video takes direct aim at the song both visually and with a revised set of lyrics celebrating the many capabilities of girls. Set to the tune of Girls by the Beastie Boys but with a new recording of the music and new lyrics, girls are heard singing an anthem celebrating their broad set of capabilities—exactly the opposite of the message of the original. GoldieBlox Girls are the subjects; they are the actors taking charge of their environment.
It gets better! Look at this chart comparing the lyrics of the original to the lyrics of the parody cover, it’s too good:
The Beastie Boys and Def Jam records just need to do the right thing here and let it goooooooooo (preferably slow and low). That’s where you come in!
- Tell them what you think on social media. Twitter: @DefJamRecords @beastieboys @ADROCK @UMG Facebook: Beastie Boys, Def Jam Records
- It wouldn’t hurt to tell GoldieBlox that you’ve got their back, too: @goldieblox
- Keep voting so the GlodieBlox ad can be played during the Super Bowl
- Universal Music Group/Island Def Jam’s VP of media relations is named Lauren Schneider, and she has an email address: lauren.schneider@umusic.com
I love the Beastie Boys, and they have done a lot of good for the world since their rambunctiously youthful days. Do the right thing. Fight for young girls’ right to party … with toys that empower STEM education.
Signal boost the hell out of this until this meets its rightful end!
