eBaum's World
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Type of site | Entertainment website |
|---|---|
| Owner | Eric Bauman |
| Created by | eBaum's World Inc. |
| URL | http://www.ebaumsworld.com |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
eBaum's World (subtitled "Media for The Masses") is a website based in Rochester, New York featuring entertainment media such as videos, Flash cartoons and web games. It is controversial for many reasons, primarily due to allegations that content on the website is taken from other sources without permission and rebranded with the eBaum's World logo. The site, which is owned by Eric "eBaum" Bauman, a native of Rochester, New York, ranks in the top 1000 sites on the Internet according to the website Alexa. [1] It is co-owned by Eric's secretary and father, Neil Bauman.
Main details
Ebaum's World is a popular humor site which features several famous features, such as "soundboards", pages with many recordings of celebrities saying words and phrases. Soundboards are widely believed to be one of the most popular features on the website and are often used for prank phone calls. In addition, the site features another section believed by some to be very popular as well called "Forum Fun", a series of images intended to be used on online forums. There is a chatroom and a store as well.
Controversy
eBaum's World has garnered significant controversy in many Internet communities over the years due to numerous incidents of content being taken from other sites; such as YTMND, Something Awful, Albino Blacksheep and Newgrounds; without attribution. Companies such as Viacom [2] [3], 20th Century Fox [4], and Sega have all claimed that Eric and Neil Bauman have infringed on their copyrights as well. Eric Bauman denies critics' claims that the site's content is stolen, citing research done by site editors and the consent form that must accompany uploads of material. He claims to honor all requests to remove unauthorized material [5], but this is contested by some content creators. In particular, web artist and animator Jonti Picking, was only able to have his animations removed at the beginning of 2006. [6] Bauman has claimed that he formerly worked with Picking, though Picking has stated that this is false. [7] [8]
A web site, eBaumsWorldSucks.com, has been set up by Something Awful supporters Neil Cicierega (Lemon Demon), Shawn Vulliez (AltF4), and Abi Rendon (LegalCondom, a former eBaum's World employee) to document the ongoing eBaum's World controversy. The site hosts a page containing statements from content creators claiming that some of their works appear on eBaum's World without permission [9].
eBaum's World on television
On January 24, 2006, USA Network made a deal with the Fox Television Studios to create a television program based on eBaum's World. Producers described it as a late-night companion special to air with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Monday Night RAW featuring clips from the website, as well as new and exclusive content including interviews with former and current eBaum's World subjects. The Show was to feature former TechTV Host Martin Sargent of Unscrewed and professional wrestler Chris Jericho. The show was being executive produced by Simon Andreae through his production company, The Incubator, in association with Fox Television Studios. The cease and desist letters from this company were removed when this show was announced. [10]
The show's pilot was expected to air in August 2006, however, it did not, and on September 25, 2006, wrestling website PWInsider reported that USA had passed on the pilot.[11]
Trivia
- As of July 2004 [12], eBaum's World sponsors professional boxer Hasim Rahman.
- In December 2006 [13], eBaum's World launched eMUSE (eBaum Media Upload Service), a video uploading service similar to YouTube.
- eBaum's World was nominated on VH1's "Big in '03" in the Big on the Web.[14]
External links
- eBaum's World - Official Website.
- eBaum's World Sucks - Site critical of eBaumsWorld.com.
- Dude, That Is So Not Funny - October 2006 article from Wired Magazine.
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