Good As You

We'll see how long before they have to eat their words. This is one of those times the collective unconcious of the world will turn and rappel a sharp doodad into the Phelps' - You don't use The Beatles to spread hate. Parodies are fine when they're actually funny. Puns don't hurt people. However speaking from someone who has of now not listened to this, and has no intention of EVER listening to it, lest it sully the song or the beautiful cover done from Across the Universe I can tell this was an ugly attempt to destroy a beautiful song.

Not that WBC has any morals anyway.

Honestly, Jake, I'm not so sure. Their parody is played on a piano with wholly different lyrics. I actually think they might be within their rights.

Arg! That's one of my favorite Beatles songs. You'll pay for this Phelps!

I think you're right, Jeremy.

It was also right of Sony/ATV to at least attempt to scare them into stopping, but we know they don't scare easily.

I also think you're right. While it's considered common courtesy for people intending to distribute a parody to obtain the consent of the original artist (or in this case, the party who holds the copyright), I don't believe there's any law that states they must do so. The same thing has happened when politicians have parodied popular songs in campaign ads, which the original artists understandably find upsetting (since some people may assume use of their material implies an endorsement).

While I believe that virtually everything the WBC believes and does is morally reprehensible, they are not stupid. In fact, they're a family of lawyers, who know the law well enough to get close to the line without fully crossing it.