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
I think 500 non institutionalized Freepers, if we have that many, should each go down to their bank tomorrow and get 10 Sacagawea Dollar Coins (pay for them with 10 Susan B. Anthony Dollar Coins), put them in two manilla envelopes, mail them to the Times and the Post (c/o "Legally Owed Payments So Says That Lady Judge Division: Cashier Cage Department) with a note ... "Payment on FR Account."
Don't forget to put "Please respond confirming receipt of payment during my regular Saturday or Sunday office hours
Mitigating Issue: There may not be 5000 Sacagawea Coins left in out-of-fountain circulation. 20 fifty cent checks or 20,000 quarters with either Delaware or Rhode Island commemeration will be acceptable substitutes.
With every passing day they become increasingly irrlevant.
One day soon they might not even exist.
I, too, am afraid that they will soon be knocking at his door. I'm going to enjoy FR (and continue to contribute both articles and dollars) until the number of excerpted articles exceeds the number of full length ones. Unfortunately, this decision may make that come sooner than later.
JimRob, me personally, I would wither up and DIE if I lost Free Republic... I don't know what it says about me but some of my best buds are right here on FR...
To all my FRiends:
FRiend,
When you are sad,.........I will get you drunk and help you plot revenge against the sorry b@st@rd who made you sad.
When you are blue, ...I'll try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
When you smile, ...I'll know you finally got laid.
When you are scared, ...I will rag you about it every chance I get.
When you are worried, ...I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be and to quit whining.
When you are confused, ...I will use little words to explain it to your dumb a$$.
When you are sick, ...stay away from me until you're well again. I don't want whatever you have.
When you fall, ...I will point and laugh at your clumsy a$$.
This is my oath, ...I pledge 'till the end.
Why you may ask?
Because you're my FRiend!
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