More copyright complaints

Free Republic | April 8, 2004 | Jim Robinson

[Jim Robinson]

As most of you are aware, we've recently received several copyright complaints. In the last few weeks, we've received complaints from the SJ Mercury News, Independent (UK), SF Chronicle and The Boston Globe. Just a couple days ago the Post-Gazette send a cease and desist notice and yesterday I heard from the Tribune-Review.

Tonight, I got a call from Amy and there were two more registered letters at our PO Box. The McClatchy News (Sacramento Bee) and USAToday are now added to the list of publications that have complained about copyright violations.

Well, folks, the handwriting is on the wall. The complaints are now coming in faster than I can respond to them. John is currently in the process of writing programs to search out and automatically excerpt all existing threads from these sources.

I think we're gonna have to go to excerpt and link for all news sources very soon unless we have written permission on file.

[weegee]

Perhaps a few letters to editors asking why they don't want more exposure, as on the Internet of their reporting?

Don't expect to see those letters printed.

Here in Houston the Houston Chronicle attempted to use the death of a marine in Iraq to bash President Bush.

The family has been quite vocal that the reporter came to them with an agenda which they rebuked. He still tainted their comments on President Bush.

The story has been covered locally on KSEV Radio, on Laura Ingraham, and soon Bill O'Reilly. Subscribers are calling in to cancel their subscriptions (partially in response to the Comical's own staffer appearing on the radio with an insulting tone).

The subscription department has been instructed how to try to persuade callers not to cancel.

All of this has been "behind the scenes" though to those who only get their news from the local tv channels and the only daily newspaper. There has been NOTHING covered there to discuss the family's outrage. Not even in the letters to the editor. The local tv stations told KSEV station manager Dan Patrick that they understood but that it was "his fight".

Here was the original report:

Soldier from Houston dies in Iraq two weeks into duty 21-year-old killed while fighting in Fallujah

[Triple Word Score]

Parody is supposed to be fair use, but Worth1000.com keeps getting cease and desist orders to use even the most obscure parodies of brand names like Krispy Kreme. They cave rather than fight it--and the site owner of that site is either a lawyer or working on becoming one (and close.)

[weegee]

Didn't it strike you somewhat *odd* all these sleezy rags show up at right around the same time frame to whine & throw a hissyfit?

Again, if a copyright lawyer could show that a number of FR-aware publications knew about FR's "copyright violations" but did nothing until prompted into action by an instigator, then they may have lost their "right" to cry foul. A copyright must be inforced when you first discover the infraction, not years later as an election approaches.

[mfccinsd]

Are the non-print media sites a problem, as well? Things like the articles on TV station sites? or does that depend as well? excerpt them to be safe? sorry if I missed this in the midst of the complaints...

[Triple Word Score]

Sounds like a lot of hassle we don't need.

If we can just determine when the article is changed post-publication, excerpting is no longer a problem...and might do nice things for JR's bandwidth bill (I admit I don't know what I'm talking about, but most articles posted get little or no commentary, so I would think that the articles themselves are significant portions of the bandwidth bill.)

I do note however that a certain other conservative site which shall remain nameless does exerpts only, and rarely do they have any truly interesting, thoughtful discussion about the articles. There'll be five or six posts on a thread about an article that generates hundreds of comments here.

Of course, that site owner rigorously suppresses vigorous discussion and bans people all the time for no apparent reason...there's no sign there's the slightest interest in free speech over there.

[weegee]

Interesting point you make about the "writers" at FR.

There are writers of editorials at Free Republic who post their works directly here. There are also some well spoken writers who post their work elsewhere and then initiate a thread with that article here.

More so, we are "all" writers. One of the biggest phenomena that has arisen from Free Republic is the firsthand accounts of history by Freepers. Possibly the most famous example was the discussion of the Space Shuttle Columbia's final voyage. Freepers were discussing observing the flyover right up until the end (as well as discussion of the audio transmissions).

That thread was cited by a number of publications and even excerpted at Democratic Underground. Did ANY of those posters get asked for permission to use their accounts of the event?

There are also the occasions where a breaking news research is made at Free Republic and then gets legs from NewsMax or some other organizations. Sometimes the "credit" is then given to NewsMax or other organizations. Some news organizations would rather cite NewsMax as a source than FreeRepublic.

[Jim Robinson]

Interesting series of discussions. Thanks

[weegee]

That'll cut down on "hits" to their sites, and consequently on their ad revenue.

Block their popups and cookies on your own computer and you will still deny them the "revenue" generated by click throughs.

[Triple Word Score]

It might be of interest to you to do a survey on the front page--how many people actually read the whole article anyway before responding if they decide to respond?

It seems to me that this information might help you decide how much this really matters.

[weegee]

I hear more radio people like Rush quoting FR and more news pieces mentioning FR. Someone is getting JEALOUS.

What REALLY makes them jealous is that Rush Limbaugh will mention an article on Free Republic and this site can handle the additional traffic. When Rush Limbaugh mentions something posted on Democratic Underground, the site crashes from too many visitors!

[antceecee]

Observation from one of the little people:
FreeRepublic is a discussion forum not a news purveyor.
Wouldn't they be pleased to have their publications quoted, excerpted, linked or used in any way that furthers the reach of their written word? I thought news was all about informing the masses. Also, wouldn't someone who enjoys reading an excerpt from their publication be more inclined to subscribe? FreeRepublic is actually giving them free advertising. How ignorant of them not to enjoy the fruits of free promotion!
The only reason any of these publications should be upset is if what they are publishing is somehow dishonest and they don't want it dissected.

[Triple Word Score]

We ran Adaware this morning at 8 am and again at noon. The first time it picked up almost a hundred, the second time, 36 spyware programs. And I do have a firewall.

I suppose if I put my checking account balance on my computer somewhere, maybe they'd all lose interest in me?

No, no no, you people want to spy on the customers who have some MONEY...!

:-D

[weegee]

This is all about money, or more exactly hits on their web site.

This isn't about money or copyright. This is about politics.

FR is becoming a bigger "fish" in the ocean.

Also left wing websites are being caught violating campaign finance laws. This is how they push back.

Unable to compete in the marketplace of ideas, they are reduced to pulling the plug.

[Quick1]

How so? They're not infringing your right to speak, only your right to copy an article from a news source. If you don't like copyright laws, take it up with Disney and the government.

I agree that this sucks, but saying that it infringes your freedom of speech is just silly.

[weegee]

....it certainly DO look like a left wing lawyer(acting alone or in concert with a DU type organization) is soliciting the news sources calling us ULTRA right wing radicals ....or what is your take??

Here's just such a recent example:

MS-NBC/Newsweek: Are You a Bush Booster -- or Basher?

Tell us if you approve of President George W. Bush's overall job performance and whether you think he will be re-elected in the upcoming election. Click the "Vote" button at the bottom to submit your results and see others' responses, then click here to see how Americans nationwide answered these and other questions in this week's NEWSWEEK poll.

Updated: 5:27 p.m. ET Feb. 12, 2004

Editor's Note: This week, the online version of the Newsweek poll received an unusually high rate of response, with the clear majority of participants casting uniform votes. For these reasons, we believe the poll is being intentionally manipulated. In addition, we received an e-mail alert suggesting that the campaign is being coordinated by at least one special-interest group

[antceecee]

How much does their copyright protect? Fox and other news outlets have weekend shows that review the media stories and critique their fairness. FreeRepublic members perform a similar service only daily. In order to adequately discuss what the media is saying you have to be able to excerpt from their stories. Were copyright laws written to protect them from fair critique of their coverage? If you cannot quote specific passages from their articles they in effect shut you up.

[Triple Word Score]

How specious of them to claim that online polls can be manipulated and therefore can't be relied upon. Noooo....

[Calvinist_Dark_Lord]

...and yesterday I heard from the Tribune-Review.

If you're referring to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, it's owned by Richard Mellon Scaife, and if you guys asked, i doubt that there'd be a problem with quoting the paper verbatum. i can't imagine any difficulty.

[Landru]

"Timing...yeah election is looming."

Don't think it has a *thing* to do with this being an election year, i-a.

"VLWC well...it certainly DO look like a left wing lawyer (acting alone or in concert with a DU type organization) is soliciting the news sources calling us ULTRA right wing radicals...or what is your take??"

Well only the old man knows who signed each letter; but, surely it wasn't by *one* lawyer.
I'd wager on that, too.

I *think* after the WACompost & LASlimes got their settlement with FR?
Various rag's Liberal-Socialist editors, writers -- & *especially* Associated Press writers -- got their heads together -- at some kind of function & over bri & cocktails? -- & decided they'd emmulate theboth left coast "Boyz."

*That's* what I think.

...ain't any more complicated than that, either.

[weegee]

Wouldn't they be pleased to have their publications quoted, excerpted, linked or used in any way that furthers the reach of their written word? I thought news was all about informing the masses.

That'a a platitude for the common man. They don't actually believe it. Indoctrinating the masses is what it's all about

The only reason any of these publications should be upset is if what they are publishing is somehow dishonest and they don't want it dissected.

"Respect my authority!"