It's Official: LAT/WP vs Free Republic Settles

LAT/WP vs Free Republic ^ | June 19, 2002 | Jim Robinson

[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

[VRWC_minion]

Can we get a form letter on line that will allow each of us to request permission to post articles ? I would love to see them handle the volume.

[VRWC_minion]

This is a victory in my book

No its not. Its what they wanted all along.

[MonroeDNA]

Congratulations, Jim. This site that you started, supported, live, and breath, lives ON!!!

I used to post as OB1 early on, but was too internet green and flamed out on my own. My bad. I remember when things were so close to going under. I remember the earlier years when things were day-by-day tough for you. I remember your struggles to keep it going, and that you simply would not give up. I admire you.

This site will go down in history as having changed the tide in America, and thus the world, from liberal to conservative. Open discussion of ideas are the hallmark. Unlike the liberal world, emotionally driven arguements don't mean much here; the true intellect and strenght of arguement wins. The left hates us, and this site. We wear this as a badge of honor.

Jim, hat's off to you. Though the day-to-day (if not hour-to-hour) fire fighting must keep your focus staggered, from the outside looking in, this place is historic, and is a powerful force.

Though all here are anonomous as they choose to be, most would be astonished to know how many political leaders, media bigwigs, high powered Dr.'s and lawyers, and political insiders come here, and often post here, every day.

Once again, congratulations.

[dixie sass]

Phew!!! It's over! Now, as you said, we can move on and get on with the business of the country!

Dixie Sass

[ArneFufkin]

It doesn't take much character or courage to demand that someone else sacrifice it all to vicariously satisfy your diseased martyr lust. That's the one negative thing about pyrrhic victories ... you end up burning to death.

Jim made a good, rational and responsible business decision. To the best interests of his health, his family's economic security, his web site, his Free Republic members and lastly, to an annoying blowfly named CedarDave. In that order. To accurately evaluate a situation and make the best decision is the behavior of a wise and responsible man.

Maybe you should go over to Lucianne's site, or Yahoo ClubMed(icated) AntiFreeper, or IstilleatGerberBabyfood.com and start posting complete cut-and-paste text from the L.A. Times and Washington Post. You'll be the new and groovy popular guy.

You're the kind of guy who'd watch Nathan Hale from a 'don't know the man' distance and go "Yeah, I wish you had two or three lives to give too! Damn, that would be great."

[aruanan]

BUMP. And now let's encourage the Post and the Times to take on Democrat websites for doing exactly the same thing.

[dixie sass]

Ping

[SpookBrat]

Sorry I can't impress you more with pictures of beautiful FReeper chicks with big hooters. We just ate dinner and drank beer. That's all. LOL

Meekie, this picture makes me miss you. sniff...

[RogueIsland]

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.

I guess they don't want the evidence hanging around when the 2nd American Revolution rolls around...

[ArneFufkin]

You couldn't have bought that kind of publicity for $10,000. Perhaps we should send LST/WP a thank you note . . .

It cost more than $10,000, and I don't think Jim considered this a PR or marketing campaign. It was crappy litigation, now it's over. If we need another fundraiser to settle the judgement, I'm in.

[ironman]

Looks like reasonable terms to me and a good way to get it over with. Way to hold your ground. Proud to be a FReeper!

[mlibertarianj]

I second the post that Carolina posted in #4. LONG LIVE FREE REPUBLIC!

[mewzilla]

Ditto to what you said.

[A Navy Vet]

That was probably the brilliant and well-published writer, Mojo.

[BADJOE]

We do not need another fundraiser for this. The settlement is paid, the lawyer is paid. We have enough money to run the next 90 days. We are doing just fine.

Thank you all very much.

[MeekOneGOP]

I'll have to dig them out. There isn't much to see though. No hooters or anything. Too bad, eh?

LOL! Don't worry about it, if it's too much trouble. I'll send him pictures of the
Hooters thread with the hot girls. He'll forget about all that other stuff, lol!

[#3Fan]

I wonder if the LAT/WP are going to raise this kind of stink when Democratic Underground posts their material.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Thanks for the ping

Bump for later reading.

Good idea, June 19th should be celebrated.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

I say we do not even bother posting anything from the Compost.

There are tons of news sources. I personally do not go to their web pg. nor post anymore from them.

[lowbridge]

It's a crying shame that the hallowed words of the WP/LAT will no longer grace our pages,

This is sarcasm, right? :-)