Michigan State University is facing a lawsuit over a controversial Adolf Hitler question that appeared on Spartan Stadium screens before a game last season. The quiz's creator, owner of Carsilius Media, BV, and operator of The Quiz Channel on YouTube, alleges that the university did not have permission to use the quiz, which was not intended for mass-market use at an American college football game.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, seeks $150,000 in damages plus legal fees for copyright infringement. The question in question appeared on October 21 during pregame of Michigan State's matchup with Michigan. It asked where Hitler was born, with Austria being the correct answer.
The university's spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, the employee responsible for showing the quiz was disciplined, and the university issued a public apology. Athletic director Alan Haller stated that his department takes accountability for all content displayed on its videoboards.
The incident occurred two weeks after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, adding to the sensitivity of the situation. An athletic department spokesman referred to the quiz as 'inappropriate content by a third-party source' and assured that the school would not use the third-party source in the future.
In the lawsuit, the quiz's creator expressed that the quiz was not meant for such a venue or event, especially given the current events at the time. The creator, a citizen of the Netherlands with a business based in Colombia, mentioned that if Michigan State had contacted him, he could have provided a customized quiz suitable for the occasion for a fee.
The lawsuit accuses Michigan State of attempting to damage the reputation of the quiz's creator and his company after unauthorized use of the quiz was discovered. It criticizes the university for not taking responsibility for its role in the incident and for failing to seek permission to use the quiz.
This legal action highlights the importance of obtaining proper authorization for content use and the potential consequences of unauthorized distribution in public settings.
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