Numerous readers have shared their dismay over the summary deletion of the peerless rankflv collection of Bob Dylan video clips on YouTube. I have no direct knowledge of what happened and why, but I think there’s good grounds for a guess. Most significantly, several days later, there’s no sign of other clips of Dylan live in concert being pulled (notably the collection at this link). That would seem to indicate that the complaints that sunk rankflv were not coming from Sony/Columbia, or anyone associated with Dylan. If it had been from them, why not go after the other conspicuous offenders? In fact, they would presumably be going after content, rather than particular users.

However, rankflv, in addition to the concert clips, had a large number of TV clips, including both interviews and performances.

Now, let’s just say I have a friend who once uploaded a clip he had of Dylan appearing on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” television show in 1979. My friend tells me that this clip got pulled ( “terms of service violation”) very soon after being posted. This demonstrated that NBC actually had watchdogs looking out for anyone posting any of their network’s stuff (or at least certain things). You can generally get away with one such violation of the terms of service, but if you do it multiple times, YouTube says they will suspend your account. If rankflv was nabbed for this, he likely would have had multiple violations right off the bat. And indeed his account was suspended.

So, if this is the scenario that in fact unfolded, it means that the individual behind the rankflv moniker could start a new account, and limit his uploads to the live concert clips, and avoid future trouble. Of-course, he might not have the patience to upload all of that stuff again. Or, he may seek an alternative and more permissive venue. But that’s my best guess as to what the situation is at this point.

Of-course, it is a shame in particular to lose easy access to those old television clips that rankflv had painstakingly collected and generously shared. Having it all on YouTube was like having access to a wing of the Museum of Broadcasting devoted to Bob Dylan. You wanted to see raw footage from Dylan’s 1984 interview on MTV? There it was (and click here for my original post about it). You wanted to see his remarkable 1986 appearance on the Chabad telethon? There it was (and click here for my original post on that). And there was much else besides, including a whole lot of things which had been largely unheralded and undocumented.

Well, here’s to rankflv for sharing it all in the first place, and here’s to hoping it sees the light of day again.

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