We all remember the Global Warming parody video “Hide the Decline,” which has had more than 500,000 viewers on YouTube. It features a cat with a guitar, a talking tree, and a dancing figure sporting the image of Professor Mann. 

Mann has finally responded to it, and in the traditional response of snake-oil salesmen, charlatans, crooks and liars everywhere – he’s going to sue. Interestingly, it’s the use of his image that Mann is complaining about, arguing that the video supports “efforts to sell various products and merchandise” rather than the fact it shows the world that he’s a twat.

 “The guy is crazy to threaten legal action,” said Jeff Davis, the President of No Cap and Trade, a large organization that includes the group Mann is threatening to sue, Minnesotans for Global Warming. “A lawsuit would give us full discovery – and there’s a lot to look at in his work.” The revelations of the leaked e-mails brought into question the methodology used to prove the Earth is getting hotter, and the phrase “hide the decline” became a catchphrase for questioning a human role in global warming.

Mann faced investigations both by Penn State and in England. While both found his work acceptable, critics have nevertheless charged that the probes were superficial and have prevented a closer analysis of the science upon which his view of global warming is based.

In his letter Mann threatened legal action, claiming the spoof video “illegally used his image and defamed him.”

Davis and No Cap and Trade said they welcome the lawsuit. The group is eager to conduct an in-depth probe of Mann’s work and “finally look at how it was done. We understand why Michael Mann is eager to silence public discussion of the hockey stick scandal, but truth is an absolute defense.”

They’ve even done another video. Smoother and more polished than the original, it’s a worthy followup.