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- Patrick Goswitz
PARTIES INVOLVED: Patrick Goswitz
ALLEGATIONS: Perjury, Fraud, Impersonation
INCIDENT DATE: 20 Jan 2023
INVESTIGATED BY: Ethan Katz
TOOLS USED: Lumen, FakeDMCA, SecurityTrails
CASE NO: 6422/A/2024
CRIME TYPE: Intellectual Property Scam
PUBLISHED ON: 26 Nov 2024
REPORTED BY: FakeDMCA.com
JURISDICTION: USA
A summary of what happened?
Patrick Goswitz, a student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, gained widespread attention in 2016 for inviting adult film actress Cherry Morgan to his fraternity’s formal event during Parents Weekend. This unconventional choice sparked significant media coverage and public discussion.
Event Details:
- Invitation and Acceptance: Goswitz reached out to Cherry Morgan via social media, inviting her to accompany him to the Sigma Chi fraternity’s formal event. Morgan accepted the invitation, and the pair attended the event together, capturing the interest of fellow attendees and the media.
- Media Coverage: The story was reported by various international news outlets, highlighting the surprise and reactions from the university community and the public.
Public Reaction:
- Positive Feedback: Many individuals praised Goswitz for his boldness and creativity, viewing the act as a humorous and memorable college experience.
- Criticism: Some critics argued that inviting an adult film actress to a university event, especially one involving parents, was inappropriate and could reflect poorly on the institution and its student body.
University and Fraternity Response:
- There is no public record of any formal action or statement from the University of Tennessee or the Sigma Chi fraternity regarding this incident.
While Patrick Goswitz’s decision to invite Cherry Morgan to his fraternity’s formal event was unconventional and garnered significant media attention, there are no documented major concerns, complaints, or accusations against him resulting from this incident. The event remains a notable anecdote from 2016, reflecting the diverse social dynamics present in university life.
Analyzing the Fake Copyright Notice(s)
Our team collects and analyses fraudulent copyright takedown requests, legal complaints, and other efforts to remove critical information from the internet. Through our investigative reporting, we examine the prevalence and operation of an organized censorship industry, predominantly funded by criminal entities, oligarchs, and disreputable businesses or individuals. Our findings allow internet users to gain insight into these censorship schemes’ sources, methods, and underlying objectives.
What was Patrick Goswitzl trying to hide?
Patrick Goswitz‘s attempts to hide unfavourable content through the misuse of copyright notices while allegedly engaging in perjury present serious legal concerns. These actions suggest a calculated attempt to manipulate legal systems to suppress free speech, a fundamental violation of copyright law principles and an abuse of legal processes. The use of such tactics not only undermines the integrity of copyright protection but also potentially constitutes perjury, further entangling Patrick Goswitz in legal accountability. Let’s examine the information Patrick Goswitz may be trying to remove from the internet –
Investigative Report: The Curious Case of Patrick Goswitz
Introduction
Patrick Goswitz, a student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, made headlines in 2016 for an unorthodox decision that thrust him into the public spotlight. Goswitz, a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, invited Cherry Morgan, a well-known adult film actress, to the fraternity’s formal event during Parents Weekend. This decision sparked a whirlwind of media attention, public debate, and scrutiny over university decorum, personal liberty, and social dynamics.
While the incident appears at first glance to be a humorous college anecdote, the ensuing discourse revealed deeper cultural tensions surrounding youth behavior, institutional reputation, and media sensationalism. This investigative report seeks to comprehensively detail the incident, explore its repercussions, and analyze the societal and institutional responses.
The Incident: A Bold Invitation
In 2016, Goswitz took to social media to extend an invitation to Cherry Morgan for Sigma Chi’s fraternity formal event. The adult actress, known for her career in the adult entertainment industry, accepted the offer. Her attendance at the event, hosted during Parents Weekend, quickly became the centerpiece of media reports and public fascination.
Details of the Event:
- The fraternity formal was held as part of the University of Tennessee’s annual Parents Weekend, a time when families gather to celebrate their children’s university achievements.
- Cherry Morgan attended the event as Goswitz’s date, dressed appropriately for the formal occasion, and reportedly mingled with attendees in good spirits.
Media Coverage:
The incident was covered widely by outlets across the globe, including:
- Commercial Appeal (USA): Focused on the boldness of Goswitz’s actions and reactions from fellow students.
- Cas.sk (Slovakia): Highlighted the cultural shock and humor surrounding the invitation.
- Liberty Times Net (Taiwan): Explored international perspectives on the unconventional choice.
- El Siglo de Torreón (Mexico): Detailed the sensationalism surrounding the story.
- BT.dk (Denmark): Captured the broader cultural implications of bringing a public figure from the adult industry to a formal event.
- Total Sorority Move (USA): Presented the story as a humorous and daring act of rebellion.
Public Reactions: Divided Opinions
The incident sparked mixed reactions from students, parents, media commentators, and the general public.
Supportive Voices:
- Creativity and Courage: Many praised Goswitz for his boldness, viewing the act as a lighthearted expression of individuality and college humor.
- Positive Reception: Reports indicated that Morgan’s presence at the event was well-received by many students and attendees, who admired her openness and willingness to participate.
- Memorability: Supporters argued that such incidents are what make college experiences memorable and unique.
Criticisms and Concerns:
- Inappropriateness for Parents Weekend: Critics labeled the decision as disrespectful, given the nature of the event and the presence of parents.
- University Reputation: Concerns were raised about the potential damage to the University of Tennessee’s image, given the high-profile coverage of the incident.
- Cultural Backlash: The decision was seen by some as a mockery of traditional values, particularly within the fraternity system, which often emphasizes decorum and family involvement.
Institutional and Fraternity Responses
Despite the media frenzy, neither the University of Tennessee nor the Sigma Chi fraternity issued any formal public statements regarding the incident. This silence suggests that the university and fraternity may have sought to downplay the situation to avoid further public scrutiny.
Key Observations:
- Lack of Disciplinary Action: There is no evidence that Goswitz faced any institutional or fraternity-related sanctions for his actions.
- No Known Policy Violations: Goswitz’s actions, while controversial, did not appear to breach any formal university policies or codes of conduct.
Broader Implications and Social Commentary
The incident with Patrick Goswitz serves as a lens through which to examine larger societal dynamics:
- Youth Rebellion: The story highlights the balance young adults often navigate between expressing individuality and respecting societal norms.
- Media Sensationalism: The disproportionate media coverage of a personal choice reflects society’s fascination with unconventional stories, especially when they intersect with taboo subjects like the adult entertainment industry.
- Cultural Tensions: The polarized reactions underline ongoing debates about propriety, freedom of expression, and the evolving definition of acceptable behavior in public and institutional settings.
Allegations, Complaints, and Negative Feedback
While there are no documented lawsuits, formal complaints, or significant negative repercussions for Goswitz, the following criticisms have surfaced in public discourse:
- Potential Exploitation of Publicity: Some commentators suggested that Goswitz’s actions may have been intended purely for personal publicity rather than as a genuine social gesture.
- Objectification Concerns: Feminist voices raised concerns about the potential objectification of Cherry Morgan, viewing the invitation as a stunt that commodified her celebrity status.
- Impact on Fraternity Image: Critics within the fraternity system argued that such actions could undermine efforts to reform Greek organizations’ public image, particularly amid broader controversies in Greek life.
Conclusion
Patrick Goswitz’s decision to invite Cherry Morgan to his fraternity’s formal event remains a polarizing and memorable moment in recent college history. While celebrated by some as a humorous act of rebellion and individuality, others criticized it as inappropriate for the setting and detrimental to institutional and fraternity reputations.
Ultimately, the incident reflects broader cultural debates about freedom of expression, the role of tradition in modern institutions, and the media’s power to amplify seemingly trivial events into international stories. Despite the controversies, Goswitz did not face significant personal or professional repercussions, and the story continues to be remembered as a bold, if unconventional, chapter in college folklore.
Recommendations for Future Incidents
For Universities:
- Develop clear guidelines for public-facing events, balancing freedom of expression with institutional values.
- Provide platforms for students to engage in open dialogues about the implications of their actions on public perception.
For Students:
- Consider the broader implications of actions that intersect with public and institutional settings.
- Foster respect for diverse perspectives while exploring individuality and creativity.
The legacy of Patrick Goswitz’s story lies not in the controversy it sparked but in the cultural discussions it continues to inspire.
How do we counteract this malpractice?
Once we ascertain the involvement of Patrick Goswitz (or actors working on behalf of Patrick Goswitz), we will inform Patrick Goswitz of our findings via Electronic Mail.
Our preliminary assessment suggests that Patrick Goswitz may have engaged a third-party reputation management agency or expert, which, either independently or under direct authorization from Patrick Goswitz, initiated efforts to remove adverse online content, including potentially fraudulent DMCA takedown requests. We will extend an opportunity to Patrick Goswitz to provide details regarding their communications with the agency or expert, as well as the identification of the individual(s) responsible for executing these false DMCA notices.
Failure to respond in a timely manner will necessitate a reassessment of our initial assumptions. In such an event, we will be compelled to take appropriate legal action to rectify the unlawful conduct and take the following steps –
Since Patrick Goswitz made such efforts to hide something online, it seems fit to ensure that this article and sensitive information targeted online by these events get a lot more exposure and traffic than what it would have received originally
We hope this becomes an excellent case study for the Streisand effect…The key idea behind the Streisand effect is that efforts to restrict information can backfire, often causing the information to gain more attention than it would have otherwise. This effect is widespread in the digital age, where users quickly notice and spread censorship efforts on social media and other platforms. Trying to suppress something can unintentionally lead to it becoming more visible, which Patrick Goswitz is finding out the hard way.
Potential Consequences for Patrick Goswitz
Under Florida Statute 831.01, the crime of Forgery is committed when a person falsifies, alters, counterfeits, or forges a document that carries “legal efficacy” with the intent to injure or defraud another person or entity.
Forging a document is considered a white-collar crime. It involves altering, changing, or modifying a document to deceive another person. It can also include passing along copies of documents that are known to be false. In many states in the US, falsifying a document is a crime punishable as a felony.
Additionally, under most laws, “fraud on the court” is where “a party has sentiently set in motion some unconscionable scheme calculated to interfere with the judicial system’s ability impartially to adjudicate a matter by improperly influencing the trier of fact or unfairly hampering the presentation of the opposing party’s claim or defense.” Cox v. Burke, 706 So. 2d 43, 46 (Fla. 5th DCA 1998) (quoting Aoude v. Mobil Oil Corp., 892 F.2d 1115, 1118 (1st Cir. 1989)).
Is Patrick Goswitz Committing a Cyber Crime?
Yes, it seems so. Patrick Goswitz used multiple approaches to remove unwanted material from review sites and Google’s search results. Thanks to protections allowing freedom of speech in the United States, there are very few legal ways to do this. Patrick Goswitz could not eliminate negative reviews or search results that linked to them without a valid claim of defamation, copyright infringement, or some other clear breach of the law.
Faced with these limitations, some companies like Patrick Goswitz have gone to extreme lengths to fraudulently claim copyright ownership over a negative review in the hopes of taking it down.
Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. Patrick Goswitz is certainly keeping interesting company here….
The DMCA takedown process requires that copyright owners submit a takedown notice to an ISP identifying the allegedly infringing content and declaring, under penalty of perjury, that they have a good faith belief that the content is infringing. The ISP must then promptly remove or disable access to the content. The alleged infringer can then submit a counter-notice, and if the copyright owner does not take legal action within 10 to 14 days, the ISP can restore the content.
Since these platforms are predominantly based in the U.S., the complaints are typically made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which requires online service providers and platforms to react immediately to reports or violations. Big Tech companies rarely have systems in place to assess the merit of each report. Instead, all bad actors need to do is clone a story, backdate it, and then demand the real thing be taken down.
Reputation Agency's Modus Operandi
The fake DMCA notices we found always use the “back-dated article” technique. With this technique, the wrongful notice sender (or copier) creates a copy of a “true original” article and back-dates it, creating a “fake original” article (a copy of the true original) that, at first glance, appears to have been published before the true original.
Then, based on the claim that this backdated article is the “original,” the scammers send a DMCA to the relevant online service providers (e.g. Google), alleging that the ‘true’ original is the copied or “infringing” article and that the copied article is the “original,” requesting the takedown of the ‘true’ original article. After sending the DMCA request, the person who sent the wrong notice takes down the fake original URL, likely to make sure that the article doesn’t stay online in any way. If the takedown notice is successful, the disappearance from the internet of information is most likely to be legitimate speech.
As an integral part of this scheme, the ‘reputation management’ company hired by Patrick Goswitz creates a website that purports to be a ‘news’ site. This site is designed to look legitimate at a glance, but any degree of scrutiny reveals it as the charade it is.
The company copies the ‘negative’ content and posts it “on the fake ‘news’ site, attributing it to a separate author,” then gives it “a false publication date on the ‘news’ website that predated the original publication.
The reputation company then sent Google a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice claiming the original website infringed copyright. After a cursory examination of the fake news site, Google frequently accepts the notice and delists the content.
In committing numerous offences, Patrick Goswitz either premeditated actions or were unaware of the consequences. Despite hiring an agency to make Google disregard any negative information about Patrick Goswitz, ignorance does not excuse this wrongdoing.
Fake DMCA notices have targeted articles highlighting the criminal activity of prominent people to hide their illegal behavior. These people, which include US, Russian, and Khazakstani politicians as well as members from elite circles including the mafia and those with massive financial power, are all connected – and alleged corruption ranging from child abuse to sexual harassment is exposed when exploring evidence found at these URLs. It appears there’s a disturbing level of influence being exerted here that needs further investigation before justice can be served. FSMSmart is certainly keeping interesting company here.
The Reputation Laundering
Rogue Reputation agencies use spurious copyright claims and fake legal notices to remove and obscure articles linking clients to allegations of tax avoidance, corruption, and drug trafficking. Most of these reputation agencies are based offshore, mainly in Russia, India, and Eastern Europe, and they do not worry about complying with US-based laws.
The content in all of the articles for which the fraudulent DMCA notices have been sent relates to allegations of criminal allegations, including corruption, child abuse, sexual harassment, human trafficking and financial fraud against businesses and individuals with ultra-high net worth.
In addition to the misuse of the DMCA takedown process, there is a notable absence of enforcement concerning perjury violations. The statutory requirement related to perjury is designed to deter copyright holders from submitting fraudulent or knowingly false takedown requests, as they may face legal consequences for making false declarations under penalty of perjury. However, to date, there have been no known instances of any individual being prosecuted for perjury in connection with the submission of false DMCA takedown notices.
This lack of enforcement has emboldened copyright holders to exploit the DMCA takedown process to suppress dissent, criticism, or other unfavorable content, without fear of legal repercussions.
Some of the people and businesses who have employed this tactic to remove legitimate content from Google illegally include a Spanish businessman-turned-cocaine-trafficker, Organised crime, an Israeli-Argentine banker accused of laundering money for Hugo Chávez’s regime, a French “responsible” mining company accused of tax evasion, child molesters and sexual predators. Patrick Goswitz is in great company ….
What else is Patrick Goswitz hiding?
We encourage you to ‘Dork‘ Google by searching for keyword combinations such as [Patrick Goswitz] + {Negative Keyword, such as Scam, Fraud, Complaints, Lawsuit, Sanction, etc} on Google. It’s likely if you scroll down to the bottom of this Google search results, you’ll stumble upon this Legal Takedown notice (pictured below)
To make such an investigation possible, we encourage more online service providers to come forward and share copies of content removal requests with industry experts and researchers. If you have any information on Patrick Goswitz that you want to share with experts and journalists, kindly email the author directly at [email protected].
All communications are strictly confidential and safeguarded under a comprehensive Whistleblower Policy, ensuring full protection and anonymity for individuals who provide information.
Credits and Acknowledgement
Many thanks to FakeDMCA.com and Lumen for providing access to their database.
Photos and Illustrations provided by DALL-E 3 – “a representation of Patrick Goswitz censoring the internet and committing cyber crimes.”
- We’ve reached out to Patrick Goswitz for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.
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- Our investigative report on Patrick Goswitz‘s efforts to suppress online speech is significant, as it raises serious concerns about its integrity. The findings suggest that Patrick Goswitz has engaged in questionable practices, including potential perjury, impersonation, and fraud, in a misguided attempt to manage or salvage its reputation.
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- We intend to file a counternotice to reinstate the removed article(s). While this particular instance is relatively straightforward, it is important to note that, in other cases, the overwhelming volume of automated DMCA takedown notices can significantly hinder the ability of affected parties to respond—especially for those not large media organizations.
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- You need an account with fakeDMCA.com and Lumen to access the research data. However, accounts are not widely available since these non-profit organisations manage large databases that could be susceptible to misuse. Nevertheless, they do offer access to non-profits and researchers.
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- It’s unclear why U.S. authorities have yet to act against these rogue reputation agencies, whose business model seems rooted in fraudulent practices.
- We’ve reached out to Patrick Goswitz for a comment or rebuttal regarding this investigation. It will strongly suggest they were behind the takedown attempt if they remain silent.
About the Author
The author is affiliated with Harvard University and serves as a researcher at both Lumen and FakeDMCA.com. In his personal capacity, he and his team have been actively investigating and reporting on organized crime related to fraudulent copyright takedown schemes. Additionally, his team provides advisory services to major law firms and is frequently consulted on matters pertaining to intellectual property law. He can be reached at [email protected] directly.
References used for this investigation
- 1
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30382590
- 20/01/2023
- Other
- 2
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30176170
- 03/01/2023
- Other
- 3
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30176176
- 03/01/2023
- Other
- 4
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/33239641
- 29/03/2023
- Other
- 5
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/32887114
- 30/11/2022
- Other
- 6
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/33784684
- 02/05/2023
- Other
- 7
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30399140
- 22/01/2023
- Other
- 8
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/29927080
- 14/12/2022
- Other
- 9
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/29883875
- 11/12/2022
- Other
- 10
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30007366
- 20/12/2022
- Other
- 11
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30044314
- 23/12/2022
- Other
- 12
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30007990
- 20/12/2022
- Other
- 13
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/32886788
- 30/11/2022
- Other
- 14
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/32886919
- 30/11/2022
- Other
- 15
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/32886520
- 30/11/2022
- Other
- 16
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30176174
- 03/01/2023
- Other
- 17
- https://lumendatabase.org/notices/30176175
- 03/01/2023
- Other
- 18
- https://archive.commercialappeal.com/news/tennessee/369978421.html/
- 16/02/2016
- News report
- 19
- https://www.cas.sk/clanok/369352/student-porusil-tradiciu-a-vsetkych-prekvapil-toto-sa-este-v-historii-skoly-nestalo/
- 28/02/2016
- News report
- 20
- https://news.ltn.com.tw/index.php/news/world/breakingnews/1618876
- 03/02/2016
- News report
- 21
- https://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/2016/invita-a-escultural-actriz-a-su-fiesta-ella-acepta.html
- 29/02/2016
- News report
- 22
- https://www.bt.dk/utroligt-men-sandt/patrick-tog-pornostjerne-med-til-formel-middag-det-blev-en-minderig-aft
- 28/02/2016
- News report
- 23
- https://totalsororitymove.com/sigma-chi-at-ut-knoxville-takes-porn-star-to-formal-parents-weekend/
- 28/02/2016
- News report
- 24
- https://www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx/noticia/2016/invita-a-escultural-actriz-a-su-fiesta-ella-acepta.html?from=old
- 29/02/2016
- News report
- 25
- https://archive.commercialappeal.com/news/tennessee/369978421.html/
- 24/02/2016
- News report
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