DAILY PAUL / MICHAEL NYSTROM SUED BY RIGHTHAVEN LLC IN MASSIVE BLOGGER COPYRIGHT SHAKEDOWN
Submitted by Michael Nystrom on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 23:08The first I heard that I was being sued came in an email from Las Vegas Sun reporter Steve Green. Green and the Las Vegas Sun have been doing a tremendous job covering the saga of Righthaven LLC, a firm that has filed 107 suits against bloggers and website owners since March of this year, including one yesterday against yours truly.
Righthaven's standard shakedown seems to go as follows: The firm goes trolling the web, looking for content that from the Las Vegas Review-Journal that has been reposted on other blogs or websites. Once it finds a match, it acquires the copyright from the Review-Journal, then - without first contacting the accused blogger / website owner - files a lawsuit in Nevada Federal court. The standard damages seem to be for $75,000 and forfeiture of the domain name to Righthaven. I assume that is what I am being sued for as well, though I have yet to see it.
Most of the content on the Daily Paul is user-generated, and my understanding has always been that I am protected by the DMCA against liability for user uploaded content. Under the law, standard procedure is for the copyright holder to contact the website owner and ask that the offending content be removed. This is a request that I have complied with numerous times for other parties. In this particular case, I was never contacted by Righthaven, nor the Las Vegas Review Journal, nor, as far as I can tell, were any of the other 107 defendants.
You can see Steve Green's reportage of the suit against me at the end of this article.
The sidebar of that article contains an excellent archive of the Green's meticulous documentation of each of the 107 suits filed so far, as well as the relevance of these suits in his September 1 article, Why we are writing about the R-J copyright lawsuits
Many of the smaller bloggers have settled their cases for a few thousand dollars, leading lawyers to term this operation as a 'shakedown.' Some are unable to settle for that sum, as their websites don't make any money at all.
Of great interest to our community is that Alex Jones is also being sued by Righthaven. See here, here, and here. Alex is quoted as saying,
“This claim is totally without merit and appears to be purely predatory and I’m weighing all options with counsel including a possible counterclaim, not just to protect myself from being squeezed but also the other sites that have been sued,” said Jones, who said his national talk show is heard on 60 stations around the country.
Also being sued, according to the Las Vegas Sun, are The Armed Citizen (which has since shut down to avoid further legal trouble - see the letter on their website), Free Republic, and NORML, among many, many others.
On August 25th, the Electronic Frontier Foundation announced that they will make efforts to assist Righthaven defendants to the best of their ability. I have initiated contact, as I have absolutely no intention of settling.
Also reporting on this story:
Law.com - Birth of the Copyright Troll
Wired.com - Newspaper Chain’s New Business Plan: Copyright Suits
LA Times: - Las Vegas Review-Journal bares its claws
- - -
While it sucks for me personally to be sued, I intend to fight this battle to the end, resources permitting. I am in the process of assembling a legal team to deal with this. After I get an idea of how best to approach this, I may ask for help in creating a legal defense fund, and I hope that I can count on your support in this battle.
I want to thank the members of the Liberty community who gave me great support today as I digested this news, including bigmikedude, Kurt Wallace, Trevor Lyman, Michael Boldin of the 10th Amendment Center, and others.
Based on what I have heard so far from my fellow patriots, and what other defendants are planning, I believe that Righthaven picked the wrong community to mess with!
In the mean time, I suggest that fellow bloggers and webmasters scour your sites for any links back to lvrj.com. Righthaven has sued websites that published just four paragraphs of a 36 paragraph story, including a link. To be safe, I wouldn't even link back to those bastards at all. Who knows - they might even sue you for that.
If you have any information that may be of value, please do not hesitate to contact me using the contact button on this website above.
Thank you again for your support.
Michael
Dr. Ron Paul on Uncertainty in Middle East, Fox Business Sep 1, 2010
Submitted by cbourne on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 20:24in
Ron Paul on troop removal from Iraq:
Dr. Ron Paul Press Release on Obama’s Iraq Speech: Mission Not Accomplished
Submitted by bobbyw24 on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 11:07LAKE JACKSON, Texas--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--Congressman Ron Paul today released the following statement on President Obama’s speech from the Oval Office last night:
“The President’s announcement that all U.S. combat troops have left Iraq is no more believable than the 'Mission Accomplished' declaration was in 2003.
“Once again, we are being told the mission has been accomplished and our brave men and women are coming back home. Though the people are hopeful they remain skeptical, and rightfully so.
“The biggest problem is that success in Iraq is undefinable since the mission was never defined. The reasons given for the invasion were based on misinformation. Now, the war has cost us hundreds of billions of dollars and this has contributed significantly to our economic woes.
read the rest here:
EON: Enhanced Online News
Man Files Suit For Being Tazed 3 Times In His Own Home
Submitted by netzorro on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 13:36Protect and serve?
Ft. Worth, TX: Nullify Now with Woods, Medina, Brogdon & More - Saturday 9/4
Submitted by Michael Nystrom on Thu, 09/02/2010 - 09:11| Reserve your tickets now | |||
 Tom Woods |
 Debra Medina |
 Randy Brogdon |
 Charles Key |
Already confirmed as speakers and/or panel participants: Ken Emmanuelson – Dallas Tea Party, Adrian Murray – Fort Worth 9-12, Thelma Taormina – We The People Are The 9-12 Association Inc., John Stacy – NotInTexas.org, Debbie McKee – Texas Campaign for Liberty, Angela Cox – Johnson County Tea Party, Michael Boldin, Founder – Tenth Amendment Center, Brian Roberts – Texas Tenth Amendment Center
Elected Officials and Candidates Attending or Participating: Representative Leo Berman (District 6), Representative Wayne Christian (District 9), Representative Phil King (District 61), Representative Sid Miller (District 59), Pastor Stephen Broden (For US House, TX-30), Kathie Glass (for Texas Governor)
Good News: New Research May Prove That People Are Inherently Good
Submitted by Reconstituter001 on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 18:31in
Dr. Ron Paul to Attend S.F. Anti-war Rally
Submitted by legalizeliberty on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 14:42http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6652166-ron-paul-t...
If you’re going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a “Don’t Tread on Me” patch on your headband. Or a flower in your hair, as you like. It’s really up to you, as it should be in a free country. Chances are the Libertarian-minded folks attending the Campaign for Liberty anti-war rally Saturday in San Francisco won’t care what you wear – they’ll just be glad to see you exercising your constitutionally guaranteed freedom of assembly.
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) will be attending the San Francisco rally in support of Republican candidate John Dennis, who faces a formidable and well-funded opponent in California’s 8th District – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Former S.F. supervisor and Ralph Nader’s 2008 vice presidential candidate Matt Gonzalez will also be in attendance, urging voters to turn out Pelosi in exchange for representation from the anti-war Republican candidate. Gonzalez, running on the Green Party ticket, narrowly lost the 2003 S.F. mayoral race to Gavin Newsom.
The rally begins at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, at the San Francisco Civic Center at Polk and McAllister, with doors opening at 1 p.m. The free event, dubbed “Principles over Parties: Ending Washington’s War on Us” is being presented by Campaign for Liberty and Young Americans for Liberty. The speakers are expected to focus on anti-war, pro-liberty, Free Speech issues.
Although Pelosi - San Francisco's representative since 1987 -- would have to be considered the favorite in this race, former House Speaker Tom Foley(D-Washington) was considered the favorite in Seattle in 1994. He was dethroned by Republican George Nethercutt that year as voters rejected congressional Democrats and handed legislative control to the GOP in both the House and the Senate.
Given the strong anti-war sentiment in San Francisco and Pelosi’s continued doubletalk about the wars, the more voters learn about Dennis, the more likelihood of an upset.
Continue:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6652166-ron-paul-t...
Liberty Candidate Delia Lopez Speech
Submitted by glassman on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 12:47in
Here's a speech by Oregon Liberty Candidate Delia Lopez.
Check it out.
Ron Paul tells Newsmax TV: "Depression Is Coming"
Submitted by bobbyw24 on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 10:10By: Dan Weil | Newsmax
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, says depression looms for the economy and that failure to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone would hasten the process.
“It will be devastating if the (tax) breaks aren’t renewed,” the 2008 presidential candidate told Newsmax.TV.
“That represents a tax increase. It’s the unknown hanging over the market,” he said. The Obama administration and many Democrats in Congress want to renew the cuts only for those with income of less than $200,000.
“I don’t understand how they can think that way. (But) when I see what they’ve done with the medical care bill and the financial reform bill, they’re capable of doing that,” Paul said.
Story continues below.
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/ron-paulobamadepression-t...
9AM Interview with Lindsey Graham and Jack Hunter aka Southern Avenger, Thursday!
Submitted by nmlifestyles on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 08:45in
http://www.wtma.com/article.asp?id=507090
from Jack Hunter : So... Graham is now scheduled to call into WTMA Thursday morning at 9 AM to speak to Richard Todd for 30 minutes. I don't think he's aware that I'm going to be interviewing him as well. Can't wait: http://www.amconmag.com/tactv/2010/08/31/uncomfortable-linds...
Barney Frank Gives Props to Ron Paul on Jay Leno + an idea!
Submitted by TheLorax on Wed, 09/01/2010 - 04:21Tonight, Aug. 31 I got a smile on my face watching Jay Leno. Barney Frank was a guest and while being somewhat critical of Obama's earlier address to the nation he mentioned Ron Paul, stating something to the effect that it was the two of them who were REALLY trying to bring the troops home.
Pure awesomeness! I find it extra special anytime Ron Paul is mentioned in a positive light to a large audience during an entertainment program. The Ron Paul mention comes at around 2:22:
Overdose: The Next Financial Crisis
Submitted by cultivator on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 12:46in
Just Released on Youtube 08-31-10
"In times of crisis people seek strong leaders and simple solutions. But what if their solutions are identical to the mistakes that caused the very crisis? This is the story of the greatest economic crisis of our age, the one that awaits us."
Bankrupt Miami in Fiscal Emergency, Breaks Employee Contracts, Hikes Property Taxes
Submitted by bobbyw24 on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 08:36in
Miami is bankrupt. Unfortunately the city refuses to admit it.
In an enormously foolhardy attempt to make ends meet, in spite of the fact that Miami home prices have been hammered and 1-in-8 are unemployed, the County keeps pouring on the painful tax and fee increases.
As you recoil from your tax warning notice today, ponder this: those multiple tax hikes aren't the only charges set to rise. Besides Miami-Dade County's plan to raise every taxpayer's rates 12.2% for operations and an incredible 56% for capital spending on undisclosed projects, it also plans to raise retail water and wastewater rates 5%.
And though County Manager George Burgess proposed the 5% water and wastewater hikes, that's not because water and sewer are running in the red. They're already quite profitable. But by raising rates, the county can dip into water and sewer cash and add $25 million to its operating spending cache while claiming it's keeping our cost down. And for that $25 million slice the county would be right — unless you happen to drink water or flush a toilet.
"If you keep taking money it just goes to reason you're going to be charging more so all the residents are paying more," Commissioner Carlos Gimenez told us. "It's actually a hidden tax. You're just hiding it in water and sewer."
Police State Rolls On
Submitted by LibertyPulse.com on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 08:36in
Two videos of it, here:
http://libertypulse.com/a...
One day, it might be you.
C4L Rising!
Submitted by For_Liberty on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 03:59Ron Paul Texas Straight Talk August 30: Iraq Mission Accomplished - Or Just Semantics and Broken Promises?
Submitted by legalizeliberty on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 03:53by Ron Paul | Texas Straight Talk
August 30, 2010
Amid much fanfare last week the last supposed combat troops left Iraq as the administration touted the beginning of the end of the Iraq war and a change in the role of the United States in that country. Considering the continued public frustration with the war effort and with the growing laundry list of broken promises, this was merely another one of those administration operations in political maneuvering and semantics in order to convince an increasingly war-weary public that the Iraq war is at last ending.
BBC Says RFK Killed By ...
Submitted by JoeDanger on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 23:21in
New video and photographic evidence that puts three senior CIA operatives at the scene of Robert Kennedy's assassination has been brought to light.
The evidence is a result of a three year investigation
The evidence was shown in a report by Shane O'Sullivan, broadcast on BBC Newsnight.
It reveals that the operatives and four unidentified associates were at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles in the moments before and after the shooting on 5 June, 1968.
The CIA had no domestic jurisdiction and some of the officers were based in South-East Asia at the time, with no reason to be in Los Angeles.
whole article:
Heavy Drinkers Outlive Nondrinkers, Study Finds
Submitted by meekandmild on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 21:55in
One of the most contentious issues in the vast literature about alcohol consumption has been the consistent finding that those who don't drink actually tend to die sooner than those who do. The standard Alcoholics Anonymous explanation for this finding is that many of those who show up as abstainers in such research are actually former hard-core drunks who had already incurred health problems associated with drinking.
But a new paper in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research suggests that - for reasons that aren't entirely clear - abstaining from alcohol does actually tend to increase one's risk of dying even when you exclude former drinkers. The most shocking part? Abstainers' mortality rates are higher than those of heavy drinkers. (See pictures of booze under a microscope.)
Moderate drinking, which is defined as one to three drinks per day, is associated with the lowest mortality rates in alcohol studies. Moderate alcohol use (especially when the beverage of choice is red wine) is thought to improve heart health, circulation and sociability, which can be important because people who are isolated don't have as many family members and friends who can notice and help treat health problems.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/08599201433200;_ylt=AvD8AXFcmqI...
DP Sponsor Ready Made Resources - Mountain House Food Sale, 25% off
Submitted by Michael Nystrom on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 21:15
Ready Made Resources is running its third and last Mountain House sale of 2010. The sale runs from Monday, Aug 30th until September 13th. Get 25% off and free shipping on case lots and combinations (6 cans increments)
Please support the Daily Paul by visiting our advertisers.
.
.
.
My Friend Randall T Hayes Won the First Ever Libertarian Senate Nomination in Louisiana!
Submitted by NRJ3 on Mon, 08/30/2010 - 20:23My high school friend and Ron Paul supporter Randall T Hayes of Winnfield, La. won the Louisiana Libertarian nomination yesterday! It was the first ever in Louisiana politics.
Randall was instrumental in getting Ron Paul on the ballot here in 2008 and will help bring the libertarian philosophy to a wider audience here in Louisiana.
Please spread the word if you are in Louisiana. He will be on the ballat in Novemeber.
Way to go Randall!!!!!!!!!!
His website is www.anti-politician.com. All of his facebook, twiiter and other information is there.
Recent comments
1 min 37 sec ago
1 min 41 sec ago
1 min 42 sec ago
7 min 51 sec ago
8 min 3 sec ago
8 min 5 sec ago
8 min 23 sec ago
10 min 40 sec ago
10 min 44 sec ago
11 min 5 sec ago