News & Politics - Bloggers who clip news content are being sued

strawberrypie · 08-31-2010, 02:57 PM

I didn't know where to post this, so if there's a thread for it just move it.

Second Newspaper Chain Joins Copyright Trolling Operation

**sunnykerr** · 08-31-2010, 05:37 PM

In case anyone can't access that link:

Quote:

Second Newspaper Chain Joins Copyright Trolling Operation

A Las Vegas company established to sue bloggers who clip news content is expanding its operations to a second newspaper chain.

Righthaven LLC has struck a deal with Arkansas-based WEHCO Media to expand its copyright litigation campaign, in which bloggers and aggregators across the country are being sued on allegations of infringement.

Until now, Righthaven CEO Steve Gibson’s sole announced client had been Nevada-based Stephens Media. Righthaven has issued more than 100 lawsuits since its spring inception on behalf of the Las Vegas Review Journal — Stephens’ flagship.

“I can tell you we also have near finalization for contracts with a substantial number of other publishers,” Gibson said in a telephone interview. He declined to divulge their names until Righthaven begins filing suits on their behalf.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has received “several dozen” inquiries from Righthaven defendants seeking legal representation, said Eva Galperin, the EFF’s referral coordinator.

“We’re up to our armpits in Righthaven defendants,” she said in a telephone interview.

The EFF, she said, has yet to take a case and has been helping the defendants obtain other counsel, she said.

For its part, WEHCO controls 28 papers, including the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock, and 13 cable stations largely in the south. Its president, Paul Smith, said in a Democrat-Gazette story last week that “it’s a pretty serious matter when someone takes your copy, information you’ve spent a lot of money to produce.”

Smith did not return a telephone message seeking comment.

In July, Gibson told Threat Level that more Righthaven clients would be forthcoming. He also gave a brief accounting of how Righthaven works. Borrowing a page from patent trolls, Righthaven acquires the copyrights to newspaper content for the sole purpose of suing blogs and websites that re-post those articles without permission.

Righthaven usually demands $75,000, but will settle for a few thousand dollars.

Well... this could get interesting.

Copyrights are actual rights, so they do have quite the leg to stand on. I'm sure the bloggers will be pleased, though.

strawberrypie · 08-31-2010, 08:11 PM

Why would they be pleased?

**Callace** · 09-01-2010, 06:17 AM

Hmm, sued for reproducing newspaper contents? Then I hope that it is posting it without links and credit that is the problem. Not just bringing over the news for discussion, like we do

strawberrypie · 09-01-2010, 06:20 AM

That's what I was thinking about

. I think they mean copying and pasting the text though, whether it's credited or not

**sunnykerr** · 09-01-2010, 04:17 PM

I'm so sorry, strawberrypie. I was being sarcastic. Obviously bloggers have reasons to be trepidatious about this. So they won't be happy about it.

It sounds like an isolated thing, though. However many companies are owned by this publishing group, the only one named and identified as a bona fide client of the law firm in question is a Las Vegas newspaper.

And it sounds to me like the usual copyright and plagiarism rules apply, which is to say that our

rules should cover them. In short, we should continue to be fine so long as we properly link and give credit to stories we discuss.

Because, first of all, the Internet is new media and the legal implications of web content are still being defined. Second of all, companies post their own stories online and offer them freely to everyone. So it's not like anyone is stealing anything by accessing that information and broadcasting it. Mostly, though, it usually takes a really long time for the law to catch up to technological innovations and posting stories online isn't new, but making a fuss about who's reading that content and how they're using that information? This is the first time I've heard of it being an issue.

Besides, freedom of speech allows people to discuss ideas, opinions and information.

strawberrypie · 09-01-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunnykerr (View Post)

I was being sarcastic.

Sometimes it's hard to tell over the internet

They're probably just trying to go after easy money

**sunnykerr** · 09-01-2010, 05:24 PM

It is SO hard to tell what people mean when posting online.

And I think it's clear they're going for the easy money. Just look at how they're trying to come off as so very intimidating.

They sue for $75K, but will settle for "a few thousands"?

They're going to have potential clients up to their armpits and yet they can only name one, and it's a newspaper I've never even heard of before.

If this ever becomes a law or if there is ever real precedent established, than we might start worrying for real.

But, right now, I think it's mostly bluster.

You.Yes.Youღ · 09-03-2010, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callace (View Post)

Hmm, sued for reproducing newspaper contents? Then I hope that it is posting it without links and credit that is the problem. Not just bringing over the news for discussion, like we do

That's what I'm thinking too, otherwise it's kinda tedious to get into a legal war over this but then again, they're just looking for money.

**sunnykerr** · 09-04-2010, 08:23 AM

I think that it's not even the newspaper trying to make money, here.

Since that article is all about the law firm... It seems pretty clear that they're trying to have some free publicity.

jaysun · 10-26-2010, 04:56 PM

I know a 100 bloggers who clip content. uh oh

**sunnykerr** · 10-26-2010, 08:12 PM

Yeah, well I won't buy into one law firm's attempt to throw its weight around.

**sunnykerr** · 02-27-2011, 11:20 AM

I've added tags to the threads.


Fan Forum > General Discussion > News & Politics > Bloggers who clip news content are being sued