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$1,000,000 Million Judgement against Jim/FR LLC - What does it mean?
12-02-01 | Bob J

Posted on 12/02/2001 10:09:56 PM PST by Bob J

Nothing...thats what it means.

The afholes have been trying to scare FReepers with this little bit information. Here is my opinion on the subject.

As you all know, the Washington Post and LA Times sued FR LLC and Jim to stop it from posting full text articles. The basis of FR's attorneys defense rested on the fair use clause. Unfortunately, Jim drew probably the worst judge he could...Margaret Morrow, a Clinton nominee, whose appointment was held up for a long time by Republicans due to here obvious left wing opinions.

The plaintiffs attorneys filed a pre trial motion to squelch the fair use defense and Judge Morrow ruled affirmatively. That basically took all the guts out of the Jim's defense. At that point, Jim's most prudent course of action was to stipulate to a decision against him. That way the case could get into the appeal with the least cost. This may have actually worked for the best since if Jim won, the WP was certainly going to appeal. It would also follow that whoever lost the appeal would then appeal to the SC. It has been estimated going directly to appeal may have saved Jim and FR 200-300k. Now, it may only cost 20-30k to get all the way to the Supremes.

Once Jim stipulated, they were allowed to ask for a dollar judgement. When Jim found out it was 1 million, he said "Why not make it 500 million. Hell, make it a billion!" The fact is Jim nor FR LLC have any money. What is raised during the quarterly FReepathons is used during the next 3 months for expenses. The LAT and WP know this. I doubt if they expect to ever see a dime of it. The judgement allows them to put a nice round number on their balance sheet to offset the obvious huge expenses this case is chewing up on their P&L's. Can you imagine the public relations nightmare for a multi billion dollar corporation to going after a disabled vet for a million bucks he doesn't have? How about a billion...heheh.

Obviously, some donations go to legal expenses, as in any business, but Jim is trying to minimize the cost. So, when an afhole throws that million dollar judgement in your face, as if you are or they expect you to pay for it, say what Jim said, "Thank you sir, make it a billion, please!"

Ha! What loosers...


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements
KEYWORDS: faq
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To: my_pointy_head_is_sharp
"But links have a nasty habit of disappearing. I've seen it happen too many times."

There is a solution to that problem:

Post two links, one to the source, and the other through archive.org. - Just not that the first is to be used if operable.

221 posted on 12/04/2001 8:19:21 PM PST by editor-surveyor
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To: RonDog
Your #65, other websites' use of (com)Post material:

I love this one, Global Research CA which copies the article and ends with...

Copyright, Washington Post 2001. For fair use only

Oh. I guess we forgot to put that next to the little circled "c":

"For fair use only"

What a**'s! -- I love it!!!

Oh, man, if only I'd a put that on my secretary's job description, woulda saved me a marriage or two ...

222 posted on 12/04/2001 8:23:06 PM PST by nicollo
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To: Torie
...none that have held that the subsequent comment is a "transformation" that results in the complete copy being different from the original
Well, should the Court view what has been as what always is, you are correct.

It's all a matter of perspective. Without even getting into why a "transformation" is required for fair use, let us just assume it is necessary. Now, how does a transformation occur? -- One starts with the original and then transforms it. Right?

So, it's ok so long as we leave out the making from the sausage -- Just show us the cooked pork and it's ok? Add up the posts and there you have it: the citizens' pie. Very fair.

Have you noticed that un-replied articles here die? That's exactly the point. What matters here is transformation.

223 posted on 12/04/2001 8:37:03 PM PST by nicollo
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To: piasa
Your rant #118...

Man, lay off the Howard Zinn a little, k?

224 posted on 12/04/2001 8:51:16 PM PST by nicollo
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To: alcuin
I did a quick check on a couple of articles on the DUh website.

The posting there seems to display the first several paragraphs of an article (no date, author, or publication information is cited as there is on FR). The quoted article is then followed by the link to the full article.

I found a Washington Post article and it did not have anything posted apart from the headline and the weblink.

I take it that the DUh website does this under the same threat that FR faces from WP (and LA-T). Did DUh ever post WP articles? How much is too much? FR at least provides all the online bibliographical citations of the article that is referenced.

225 posted on 12/04/2001 8:59:34 PM PST by weegee
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To: antivenom
Your #190:

I hate seeing their great idea destroyed, and I hate to see all of this implode daily in these types of threads.

Lol! Just what copyright violations do you find here? JR's unfair use of the 1st amendment?

226 posted on 12/04/2001 9:05:02 PM PST by nicollo
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To: All
Forgive me for interrupting your very important thoughts and profound wisdom, but we are in the midst of the most exciting fundraiser ever on FreeRepublic. I would hate for any of you to miss it!

Come visit us at Freepathon Holidays are Here Again: Let's Really Light Our Tree This Year - Thread 5

and be a part of something that is larger than all of us.

Alone, we are a voice crying in the wilderness. Together we are a force for positive action!

Don't be left out!

Be one who can someday say..................... "I was there when..................."

Thank you to everyone who has already come by and become a part!

227 posted on 12/04/2001 9:07:13 PM PST by 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember
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To: Jim Robinson
Bumping your all, especially no.'s 104, 144 & 205

'nuff said.

228 posted on 12/04/2001 9:10:51 PM PST by nicollo
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To: weegee
I have no idea. I was there only once, and didn't click on anything. I hardly remember it.

Now, if you want some info on http://www.wackybabesinbaseballcaps . .

229 posted on 12/04/2001 9:11:35 PM PST by alcuin
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To: BRL
Yeah, as it is, the LATimes had to sell everything they owned to the folks at the Chicago Tribune, ending 100+years of local(LA) control, and the W.Post is at the bottom of the ratings heap, and can't give advertising space away. I'm sure they wanted that to happen.

Who knows before it's all over FR may outlive them both.

230 posted on 12/04/2001 9:56:49 PM PST by PeaceBeWithYou
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To: nicollo; Mojo
Thanks, Nicollo.

By the way, Mojo writes on the AFer board:

"Newspapers have been specifically listed in US copyright laws since the Copyright Act of 1909.

www.kasunic.com/1909_act.htm

Of course newspapers were presumed to be covered long before then. In fact, it could be argued that the very concept of copyright began with the idea of controlling newspapers in England. The king wanted to control pamphlets, broadsides, and other outlets of political speech.

BTW, the first true copyright law, the Statute of Anne, was passed in 1709, eighty years before the adoption of the US Constitution. As was the case with most of the English laws the US inherited, the framers had no intention of overturning its principles.

How old does a law have to be, before JimGod is willing to obey it? Does he want to own slaves, too? Since he doesn't own any property (only a mortgage), should he be allowed to vote?"

Mojo:

And my point is, that before this modern day law was made by Congress, there was no law and no Constitutional provision prohibiting the people from using news accounts as part of their guaranteed right to free speech. News accounts were considered factual public information, not works of art or science eligible for protection under the provisions legally enacted pursuant to the copyright clause. During all of U.S. history before this point, the right of the people to free speech, as guaranteed by the first amendment, including the right to use news accounts in any manner whatsoever reigned supreme.

And, of course the King of England wanted to control pamphlets, broadsides, and other outlets of political speech. That's one of the tyrannies that our founding fathers overthrew. And this is the primary reason why the Founders wanted the rights of a free press and freedom of speech guaranteed for the people, and NOT controlled or abridged by the government. They just fought a revolution to throw off this kind of tyranny and did not want to repeat it.

News sheets were common and were not new technology in those days. Had the Founders intended them to be eligible for copyright protection they would've made it so in the very first Copyright Act. They would not have intended for the Congress to wait for over a century later to enact such protection. Obviously, they fully intended for news accounts to be free speech.

The first amendment means exactly what it says:

The Congress shall make NO law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Now there is a plain, but powerful statement: The Congress SHALL MAKE NO LAW....

What is it about that specific rule that is so hard to comprehend?

Now, where does the Congress derive its power to overturn the first amendment and suddenly take it upon itself to MAKE LAW abridging this supreme right? The power is definitely NOT granted by the Constitution. In fact, the Constitution expressly forbids the Congress any such power.

And, lastly, it is not the age of the law that is in question, it is its constitutionality. If the law was enacted illegally, then it should be declared null and void. Government control over free speech and a free press was overthrown in 1776. How many more times must we throw off this particular form of tyranny before we willingly allow the people their guaranteed right to free speech?

231 posted on 12/05/2001 1:32:42 AM PST by Jim Robinson
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To: BRL
"do a search

from: dutiful

and go to her first post"

You never learn, do you. Rude begets rude. RonDog was kind enough to clarify your dodge.

Now, answer #194 after you wipe the smirk off your chimp.

232 posted on 12/05/2001 4:46:45 AM PST by harrowup
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To: Bob J
You're full of questions and comments. Let me ask you one. Have you ever posted on what is known as "antifreeping" boards, and if so, what were your screen names there?

Bob:

I am apt to side with Jim on this issue, however this post of yours sickens me. I know there are folks who have been around here lately that have a personal axe to grind. That being said, I am seeing a string of unanswered questions (particularly my first one to you...which I asked you what the game plan is...it is only fair to tell freepers this before they donate). I have taken exception with BRLs viewpoint on this very thread, however his opinion seems to be an honest one. This attempt of your to try and paint him (her?)that way seems to be a transparent attempt to discredit him without discrediting his opinion. Personally, I don't care if BRL posts to the Transexual Bestialists chatboard...if his opinion has merit it needs to be addressed.

233 posted on 12/05/2001 5:08:14 AM PST by francisandbeans
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To: BRL
I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.

That dear daughter you refer to was so obvious in her post that anyone could see through her little rant.

How many times did the brain trust on the AFer board pass that one around tweeking it for publication before it was posted?

234 posted on 12/05/2001 5:44:59 AM PST by ReaganGirl
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To: Jim Robinson
I don't care how valiantly you defend free speech for everyone. That shouldn't include
Bob Beckel!!
He was on CNN this morning, blaming President Bush for last week-end's attacks on Israel.

But seriously....I'm encouraged to find out from this thread, that liberalass judges in California are often struck down on appeal. I had no idea.

235 posted on 12/05/2001 5:49:24 AM PST by YaYa123
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To: ReaganGirl
It did seem that she had too much information for a recent lurker didnt it? I think she was a plant. However...what if you were wrong? Would you and Howlin' feel bad about the way you ran her off? Personally, I would have used a little more tact than that.
236 posted on 12/05/2001 5:59:36 AM PST by francisandbeans
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To: Roscoe
"And the Los Angeles Times repeatedly editorialized for her confirmation during that delay. Her decision was a payoff"

Sounds like a conflict of interest that can be mentioned during the appeal?

237 posted on 12/05/2001 6:05:26 AM PST by Tymesup
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To: ReaganGirl
the brain trust on the AFer board

Brain trust? AFer board? Isn't that an oxymoron?

Seriously though, I have browsed these boards and some of the people sound so unhappy there, that if FR ever did go down under, they would soon be cannibalizing themselves.

238 posted on 12/05/2001 6:08:00 AM PST by bulldog905
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To: francisandbeans
No lurker would have the informatin she had about the inner She also used arguments and made points that I have only seen on AFer boards and not on FR. That tells me that the dear daughter is is one (or more) of the AFers.

But for the sake of argument lets assume that you're right and she's just looking out for her mom. WHERE WAS MOM? Why didn't Mom pop in and say....hey this is my daughter and I asked her to do this for me so leave her alone? That would have ended the argument right then and there.

If she was really looking out for her mother why didn't she reply to any of the questions posed to her? I'm still waiting for mine.

He/She/It was a AntiFreeper plant and nothing more so no I don't feel bad about giving her a hard time. That's the beauty of FR. If I disagree with you I say so. The End. If I agree with you, I say so. The End. I dont' post a flame and run away like daughter did.

239 posted on 12/05/2001 6:08:45 AM PST by ReaganGirl
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To: bulldog905
if FR ever did go down under, they would soon be cannibalizing themselves.

They already are. Notice that there is ONLY ONE FreeRepublic and yet there are what, three or four AFer boards.

Why? I'm glad you asked. There are numerous AFer boards because they can't get along with each other and keep splitting into factions of AFers.

If FR ever did go away they would have nothing to talk about because they are boring people who only know how to rant. Notice that there are no discussion threads that are not related to FR. If they were so miserable here and so oppressed to speak their opinions why aren't they posting those brilliant opinions on the AFer boards....because they don't have any.

240 posted on 12/05/2001 6:12:56 AM PST by ReaganGirl
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