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Twitter suspends Deadspin’s account after NFL complains about game GIFs

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Sports news site Deadspin's Twitter account was suspended for about two hours Monday after the NFL complained about animated GIFs showing highlights of football games.

The NFL “did not request that any Twitter account be suspended,” spokesman Alex Riethmiller said, but it did request “that Twitter disable links to more than a dozen pirated NFL game videos and highlights that violate the NFL's copyrights.”

According to Politico reporter Peter Sterne, the league’s takedown requests were numerous.

Sports and political commentator Keith Olbermann was incensed that Twitter suspended the account.

Olbermann offered to let Deadspin tweet through his account while its own was inaccessible, and Deadspin accepted.

This is not the first time a move by Twitter has led to free-speech concerns. This year the company cut off API access to Politwoops and other sites that republished politicians' deleted tweets, in effect ending those sites' ability to carry out their mission.

Meanwhile, Deadspin columnist Drew Magary had some fun with the situation.

It is unclear exactly why the Twitter account was suspended and why the suspension was later lifted. Calls and emails to a Twitter spokesperson and Deadspin staffers were not immediately returned.

Minutes before Deadspin resumed tweeting, a hint at a resolution came from Terron Moore, who works for Gawker Media, Deadspin’s parent:

When Deadspin’s account was reinstated, it celebrated by posting two tweets with links to unflattering coverage of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Multiple Deadspin tweets with NFL highlight GIFs remained live Monday evening.

For more news, follow @raablauren on Twitter.

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