Home Despite the Rumors, RickRolling Isn’t Dead

Despite the Rumors, RickRolling Isn’t Dead

Dramatic headlines cried out overnight that RickRolling was dead. The original Rick Astley video with more than 30 million views has been pulled from YouTube due to copyright violation. In fact, however, YouTube appears to have simply moved the video to Vevo, its music video website in partnership with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI.

Never Going to Give You Up” is published under the RCA record label, which is a property of Sony. Originating on outlaw web forum 4chan and leading to a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade appearance by Astley 20 years after the song was released, RickRolling isn’t dead – it’s just safe now, in the official copyright friendly section of YouTube.

Update: A YouTube spokesperson has now said that pulling the video was done on mistake.

RIckRolling, the phenomenon, only remained outside the official boundaries of copyright for less than 3 years. The user account that uploaded the video to YouTube where it saw 30 million + views though, named cotter548, has now been suspended. Hardly a warm thanks from the company for a user that facilitated one of the most-referenced reasons to visit the website – that’s just hitting below the belt.

Meanwhile the official version on Vevo already has more than 22 million views as well. RickRolling may not be dead, but it’s probably over being cool. Here at ReadWriteWeb we’ve moved on to other things anyway. Like Pickle Surprise.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.