Is CBS kidding? Brian Stelter at the NYT reports that they've spent the weekend having "unauthorized copies" removed from YouTube. First of all, let's get one thing straight: Videos of Letterman's mea culpa don't need to be authorized. They're news. Check your Fair Use rules: it uses only the newsworthy portion of the show, it's definitely being commented on (!), and it won't affect the market for the original work (don't blame the messenger!). Despite its length (approx 10 mins) it's been pretty well-established as blaring-headlines-on-the-front-of-the-New-York-Post news. So let's just make that clear. (more...)