Posted on 06/19/2002 1:54:11 PM PDT by Jim Robinson
I just received official word that our settlement with the LAT/WP in their alleged copyright infringement and unfair competion suit against Free Republic (click Source link above for complete history of the case) is completely finalized with the court. I do not have a copy of the final order yet, but the basic terms are as follows:
- Unless we receive prior written permission on an article by article basis, Free Republic agrees to continue posting only excerpts (as allowed by fair use) and links from any of the LAT/WP or related publications.
- Free Republic agrees to remove all full text copies of any LAT/WP and related publications copyrighted articles from its archives and servers and to destroy all copies of same.
- Neither party is awarded any damages, attorney fees or costs except that Free Republic agrees to pay the Los Angeles Times $5,000 and the Washington Post $5,000 (these negotiated amounts have already been paid).
I will post the entire final order including the list of related publications as soon as I receive a copy and get it scanned in.
Well, my fingers are not cold and dead and my keyboard has not been ripped away. While this is not entirely a win for FR, neither is it a crushing defeat. Free Republic is alive and well and the fight against liberalism continues on. It's a crying shame that the hallowed words of the WP/LAT will no longer grace our pages, but, somehow, I am sure we will manage to live on without them.
And despite what our detractors may say, we have not committed any crimes or broken any laws and we have not admitted to any guilt. We have negotiated a mutual agreement and settlement with the LAT/WP and have agreed upon satisfactory terms for continuing forward without having to spend the rest of our lives in court.
Many thanks to all of you for your past and continuing support.
Regards.
Jim Robinson
can we consider this to be FR's Independence Day ??
Excellent observation, and I agree. They always go after the one with the fewest resources so as to keep the fight short, and make the victory clear. Jim's unwillingness to bend on principle is what kept FreeRepublic alive.
If the LA Slime and Washington Compost thought they'd keep their victory during Jim's appeal, they'd have never accepted such a small amount of "compensation" for their "articles." Rather, they'd have proceeded ahead and tried to make a mockery out of Jim and FreeRepublic.
Ain't it something when someone stands on principle and wins? An example has been set here today.
Heh heh...
My guess is that they'll have to go back to gazing at Playboy centerfolds to make their hand-candy work ;o)
LOL! Too funny! I'm happy to hear that we're still here and not going anywhere. Congrats!
Congrats! :-)
Smells like victory to me!
Sounds good, Brityank. Let us celebrate this every year :) Let us plan our next National meet on this day to celebrate this victory.
They and their crack legal teams must be bursting with pride about now -- and wondering how to spend their $5,000 windfalls........
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