Have the Beastie Boys lost their sense of humor? Sure they absolutely should have been asked for permission for the use of their song, and this lawsuit really should have never happened.
Goldie Box, a toy company which makes ‘building games for girls to inspire future engineers’, because they ‘believe there is a million girls out there who are engineers’ but ‘just might not know it yet’ has released this awesome video to promote their company, showing three little girls building a gigantesque domino effect with their new toys, while singing the Beastie Boys song ‘Girls’ with alternative lyrics, such as ‘Girls/to build the spaceship/ Girls/ to code the new app/ Girls/ to grow up knowing/ That they can engineer that/ Girls. That’s all we really need is girls.’
It’s cute and clever but the Beastie Boys aren’t happy with the use of the song and have now filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement:
‘GoldieBlox created its parody video with specific goals to make fun of the Beastie Boys song, and to further the company’s goal to break down gender stereotypes and to encourage young girls to engage in activities that challenge their intellect, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The GoldieBlox Girls Parody Video has gone viral on the Internet and has been recognized by the press and the public as a parody and criticism of the original song.’
‘To make fun of the Beastie Boys song? A parody? I don’t see it! Yes, it is a commercial but it is made to encourage girls to do science, math and engineering, and yes the company shouldn’t have used the song without the artists’ authorization, but where is the parody? The company is going to a California federal court to establish that the video is not a copyright infringement, since GoldieBlox thinks that reworking the lyrics is fair use:
‘In the lyrics of the Beastie Boys’ song entitled Girls, girls are limited (at best) to household chores, and are presented as useful only to the extent they fulfill the wishes of the male subjects. 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 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. They are also shown engaging in activities far beyond what the Beastie Boys song would permit. GoldieBlox created its parody video specifically to comment on the Beastie Boys song, and to further the company’s goal to break down gender stereotypes and to encourage young girls to engage in activities that challenge their intellect, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.’
You can watch the video below and decide if it is fair use, and if it’s a parody or not. I thought it was funny and well done, I would have been all over it when I was 6! What probably irritates the most the Beastie Boys, is that they have not been consulted and got any money for the use of the song, and I still don’t understand how the company didn’t consult a lawyer regarding copyright infringement. Still the Beastie Boys have built their career on satire and parody, so they should get this: