Copyright infringement complaint from The Onion

Email from The Onion | 09/19/03 | Sean Mills

[Jim Robinson]

Subject: Copyright infringement

Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 16:27:04 -0400

From: Sean Mills smills@theonion.com

To: webmaster@freerepublic.com

Dear Free Republic,

It has come to our attention that you have published a number of pieces of Onion content at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/onion

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/k-onion/browse

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/583819/posts

This material was published in THE ONION and the images you are presenting are being served by our servers. The material that you are publishing was published without permission of ONION, INC. Further, the material is copyrighted. You have infringed on our copyright and we, therefore, demand that you immediately cease and desist from any further use of the copyrighted material and remove the material from your website. In addition, you may not use the material in any other manner whatsoever.

Please understand that we anticipate your full and immediate cooperation in this matter. Also, please understand that we do not hesitate to enforce our rights in these situations.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sean Mills

[inquest]

Who know's what their problem is

I know what their problem is: They're getting extremely high on themselves, like that Accounts Reeceevable guy whose columns they keep posting. They think they're a bunch of top players, and have to act like they're "in the league" or whatever. That's why their site's so loaded with constant in-your-face advertising of the non-satirical variety.

If you ask me, the place has never been the same since T. Herman Zweibel blasted off from earth.

[Uncle George]

Is THE "GARLIC PRESS" a off-shoot of the Onion?

[Dog Gone]

I thought the Onion did some brilliant satire occasionally, although some stories were more sophomoric than anything. In sheer percentage of stories posted at this site, I'd say that less than 10% were directly or indirectly related to the goals of this forum. Most of it was simply non-political humor.

It's not worth fighting them for the rights to post here simply because the value of those pieces to the discussion here was minimal at best. I do think they're being stupid and petty, and they're obviously going to see a lot less hits on their site from anyone here.

My guess is that the people at the Onion are not too fond of conservatives, and that's what's really behind all this.

[LibWhacker]

It has come to our attention . . .

Yeah, right . . . Some DU lice condo probably thought it would actually hurt FR if we had to stop posting Onion articles and so complained to them. We can probably expect more of this, imo.

INAL, but it seems like a complainant who doesn't tell everybody else who's posting lots of his articles to the web/usenet/etc. to stop doing it, simply doesn't have much of a case -- particularly when he's been notified that it's going on (not that FR should go picking legal fights with everybody out there, either!).

Oh, well . . . Personally, I never cared all that much for the Onion anyway, the liberal POS!

[Skooz]

Man. That's a snotty, hateful little snit of a letter.

For some reason I expected more from The Onion.

[Uncle George]

Read "THE GARLIC PRESS" it has much more flavor than the onion.

[TomServo]

Man. That's a snotty, hateful little snit of a letter.
For some reason I expected more from The Onion.

I'm sure this letter was drafted by their lawyers.

[Skooz]

. Soon, FR may consist of nothing buy vanity ramblings.

That is a very real possibility.

[aruanan]

I have e-mailed smills@theonion.com, not in a mean way or anything, but just pointing out to him the potential readership he is losing.

I did as well. Some people can be so stupid.

[pogo101]

Does that mean, No excerpts of a few lines, too? Or are those sorts of very short snippets still OK, as with the LA Times, etc.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Must read ping.

[Diverdogz]

You are free to react any way you'd like.

All the Onion wants is for their work to be read from their website. That's how they get paid - web hits and exposure to their online store. Its still free to read and enjoy. A perfectly reasonable policy.

But honestly, if anyone sounds like an uptight, bunch of sour grape pouty babies, its the Freepers whining because they've been asked not to abuse a copyright.

Grow up.

[DollyCali]

I looked at the pix of the group.. they ARE young.

I have only gone there w/forwards from FR. found some humorous & some offensive (that is no doubt their goal. I am their mom's age)

further thoughts:

Onions produce tears & bad breath.

No nasty vindictiveness.. just puzzlement

nuf said?

[Cyber Ninja]

So there are no more postings from the Onion.
On the net they’re a bit of a bunion.
Jim’s prudence is praised.
And my finger is raised.
This is no great loss, IMO.

[LibWhacker]

Thanks, I will. I never heard of them before this thread. Maybe I should thank the Onion also? . . . Nahhhhhhh, what am I thinking?!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Given the Onions satire is political I would have though they’d be happy with the traffic Freeps generate for them.

In some circles, FR is a dirty place. I suppose from the tone of their letter they have reservations about possibly sullying themselves with any association with any site they perceive as a Right Wing Fringe Hate Group.

Just a theory.

[Keith in Iowa]

>>And my finger is raised.

Would that be the second digit raised from an otherwise closed fist?

[Skooz]

You have a good point, but if every website had such a policy, FR would cease to exist. At least in any recognizable form.

[tiamat]

Well, I didn't KNOW where they were out of!

Years afo, I thought some of their stuff was funny. and I did like the bit about "hi-jackers in hell".

I just leave 'em alone now because all they do any more is make me mad.

Tia

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I just advised friends who I turned on the Onion (along with several other sites ) to look at this thread. Any decision is up to them. I'm not going to start a flame war.