Date: Mon, 25 May 2020 13:04:08 -0000
Subject: Reminder: Reconsider how YouTube hosts Buddhist content
To: copyright@youtube.com
Body:
This is the third email sent on the same subject because not even a single reply was received from you either for the first email sent on the 10th of May, 2020 or for the second email sent on the 18th of May, 2020, except for what appear as automated responses. Copied below is the same message text sent earlier. Please respond..
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Dear YouTube,
I, being a follower of Lord Buddha, wish to bring to your notice an unacceptable practice exercised by YouTube and request to end the same. Please read this mail carefully and I greatly appreciate a reply.
Similar to YouTube defining its own policies that the YouTube users should adhere to, Buddhism defines its own policies that the followers should adhere to. In both cases, the rules and guidelines set are more restrictive than the rules and guidelines set by countries for their citizens and other entities. They are specific to the needs of each specific domain. But problems arise when the two domains with conflicting policies mix together.
Buddhism is self contained and does not require overarching external rules and external guidelines about how the followers should practice Buddhism. Sri Lanka, my motherland, for example gives the foremost place to Buddhism as per the Chapter II of the constitution, the supreme law of the country. Quoting the same:
"9. The Republic of Sri Lanka shall give to Buddhism the foremost place and accordingly it shall be the duty of the State to protect and foster the Buddha Sasana, while assuring to all religions the rights granted by Articles 10 and 14(1)(e)."
YouTube being a business entity has policies that conflict with Buddhist practices. Hence, the present form of YouTube causes harm to Buddhism. In terms of applicable copyright, both the Standard YouTube License and the Creative Commons license are incompatible with the Buddhist doctrine. When the uninformed or mischievous entities use YouTube to publish false content in the name of Buddhism, there's no compliant mechanism to nullify the effect. Some of such entities are anonymous and we are not even able to trace them. Free speech in the form of anyone being able to freely say anything in the name of Buddhism is not entertained in Buddhism.
So may I kindly request you to either be compliant with Buddhism if you prefer to continue hosting the Buddhist content or remove all the Buddhist content from your platform including the videos and channels.
In case you prefer to continue hosting Buddhist content, an appropriate license to indicate that the content is subject to the Lord Buddha's order needs to be present in addition to the current two options you have - namely the Standard YouTube License and the Creative Commons license. Also, you need to deploy an active mechanism to take down videos and channels that are not in alignment with Buddhism. Some other platform adjustments are also needed and not mentioned here for brevity. This will require for you to possess a great level of understanding of Buddhism.
I believe that you do not entertain the YouTube users to violate the rules and guidelines set by you. In the same manner you need to respect the rules and guidelines set by Lord Buddha for Buddhists. Help us to respect your interests while we follow our religion as we please.
With Metta,
Kamal Wickramanayake
P.S.: This mail will be made public. Your reply or replies may also be made public.