CBS has withdrawn copyright infringement notices issued against online users who shared footage of Stephen Colbert’s surprise return to late-night television on a Michigan public access show. The network faced backlash after filing takedown requests under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, targeting videos of Colbert’s appearance on Only in Monroe.
The episode, which aired on Monroe Community Media, featured musician Jack White, actor Steve Buscemi, and a cameo from Eminem. Clips and full uploads were posted online before Colbert’s official YouTube channel released the episode, leading to copyright claims against several outlets, including media publication The Desk.
In a statement to Variety, a CBS spokesperson said the episode was financed and produced by CBS Studios and posted on Colbert’s YouTube channel in collaboration with Monroe Community Media and The Late Show’s channels. The network acknowledged it had sent copyright notices as standard practice but decided to waive further enforcement pending additional review.
Matthew Keys, founder of The Desk, criticised Paramount, CBS’s parent company, for filing what he called “frivolous copyright notices” over content produced by a public access channel. Colbert himself joked about the situation during the show, referencing Paramount’s acquisition of the local station.
The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert drew 6.74 million viewers, the highest for a weeknight episode in its 11-year run. Colbert’s official YouTube channel has since posted the Only in Monroe episode, which has garnered over 400,000 views.
