Posted on 09/09/2011 11:01:04 AM PDT by Jim Robinson
Despite its backing by the billionaire Warren Stephens family, Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC warned today it may have to file for bankruptcy because of a series of setbacks in its litigation campaign.
The warning came in an emergency request by Righthaven to a federal judge in Las Vegas that he stay his order that Righthaven pay $34,045 in legal fees to attorneys who successfully defended Kentucky message board poster Wayne Hoehn against a Righthaven lawsuit.
Righthaven has already appealed U.S. District Judge Philip Pros fee award to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Righthaven is also appealing the underlying rulings by Pro finding Righthaven lacked standing to sue Hoehn and even if it had standing that Hoehn was protected by fair use in posting an entire Las Vegas Review-Journal column on a sports betting website message board.
Righthaven says its lawsuits are necessary to deter rampant online infringement of newspaper content, but attorneys for Hoehn and other defendants claim Righthaven's suits are frivolous and are based on sham copyright assignments and are merely part of a get-rich-quick scheme.
Righthavens bankruptcy warning came a day after MediaNews Group, the owner of the Denver Post and other newspapers, revealed it wont renew its contract with Righthaven for copyright protection services in the form of its controversial no-warning lawsuits.
While the Righthaven bankruptcy warning may sound ominous, a bankruptcy filing wouldnt prevent Righthaven creditors from asking the bankruptcy court for permission to seize Righthavens assets. Such a filing also would require Righthaven to reveal detailed financial information that so far has been secret as it's a private company.
And Righthaven copyright lawsuit defendants considering countersuing Righthaven over what they call sham copyright claims would likely target not just Righthaven, but its deep-pocketed newspaper partners...
(Excerpt) Read more at vegasinc.com ...
A couple of points to discuss with your lawyer:
/Zak
A triumphant Jim Robinson Ali gloats over his prostrate opponent, Sonny Righthaven Liston
they THINK they can continue without the liability.
If bad faith/fraud can be shown then not even bankruptcy will protect them.
Wonderful to hear!
Bob J is deeply saddened.
The guys that make up the sayings that go with the pictures are pure genius....
Either that, or check with your attorneys about filing a claim in their bankruptcy for a refund?
Drive a stake through their hearts.
Perhaps the best is yet to come.
Is a possible RICO charge against Righthaven and its partners in crime for sham lawsuits/illegal takings in the offing? (Go after the deep-pocketed conspirators)
JC
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