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 can think of a few obsessive-compulsive AFers who now may want to consider untwisting their knickers.
It's certainly not what LAT/WP were hoping for, that's exciting. I'm a little bummed about the fines, but under the circumstances I think we came off better than they did.
Good for you JimRob. Thanks to you and everyone else for fighting the good fight.
Perhaps we need a "Free Republic Death Watch" death watch.
No big loss here. No real conservative would ever "cite" either of these left wing fish wraps for any meaningful thread. Only the disruptors love the Slimes and Compost!
With most of their biased opeds, 7 lines is often 7 lines too much!
LOL! Great news.
All DUmmies, Sore Losermen and assorted clymers can go stick it!
Too bad they weren't smart enough to let us post their articles in full, they might be doing a lot better today. As it is, I rarely click on the links to them because of their stance in this, I won't give them the hits.
Congrats & Eagles Up
SCOUTS OUT!
Anytime you don't lose a fight against the bigs, you've won a big battle.
Congratulations, and thanks!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.