Copyright infringement complaint from The Onion

Email from The Onion | 09/19/03 | Sean Mills

[Jim Robinson]

Subject: Copyright infringement

Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2003 16:27:04 -0400

From: Sean Mills smills@theonion.com

To: webmaster@freerepublic.com

Dear Free Republic,

It has come to our attention that you have published a number of pieces of Onion content at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/onion

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/k-onion/browse

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/583819/posts

This material was published in THE ONION and the images you are presenting are being served by our servers. The material that you are publishing was published without permission of ONION, INC. Further, the material is copyrighted. You have infringed on our copyright and we, therefore, demand that you immediately cease and desist from any further use of the copyrighted material and remove the material from your website. In addition, you may not use the material in any other manner whatsoever.

Please understand that we anticipate your full and immediate cooperation in this matter. Also, please understand that we do not hesitate to enforce our rights in these situations.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sean Mills

[visualops]

No.
Web content- the pages, images etc, are served by the server hosting them to the machine requesting. There can be various "routes" that may take, but the end result is the same.
Any way to serve up Onion content without using their bandwidth(such as mirroring), and/or allowing access to Onion advertising, is too much trouble, and would not be good for FR.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I think the issue, looking at their letter, is the BANDWITH. The pictures suck up bandwith, and that costs them money.....

Its a lot cheaper to send a letter than to pay someone to code the site every week with anti leaching html or java or however they do it....

not to mention the hassle of doing it every week.

[aruanan]

Folks, if somebody outside of FR was directly linking to pics on FR, and it caused JR's bills to rise, and he had no way to get the expenses back from the people directly linking and had to pay for it out of his pocket, a lot of you would be screaming for somebody's head.

Sure, and I suggested that they strike the same kind of deal that JR offered Washington Post and the LA Times but turned down by them: every time someone accesses a story from The Onion posted on FR, they get a hit back at their website. This way they gain readership and keep ad revenues.

[visualops]

Why the hell are you here if you are unable to reason?
Your pedestal has cracks in it, get off.

[KneelBeforeZod]

what I find interesting is that a LOT of aritcles appear on FR within 20 minutes of showing up on fark.com (weird, stupid etc news links)

Me and another FReeper got kicked off of fark for being too conservative... I know there are more FReepers that hang out there though.

[KneelBeforeZod]

I cut and pasted a Jim Anchower article...sent it to the email list for my high school reunion.

I of course changed a couple details to make it fit. one of the guys in my grad. class sent me an email...he took it totally seriously. He talked about how he was addicted to drugs and did rehab and I should contact him... pretty funny, but kinda sad I guess.

[disclaimer]

Please so not post anything from The Onion.

I guess we'll have to make do with The Carrot then. Sheez. It's just not the same.

From The Carrot:
Video 8/23/2003
The most fascinating game of ping-pong I've ever seen.

[MeekOneGOP]

What a bummer. I never posted any, but I have
seen/read plenty of them. Gonna miss it too ! :O(

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Diverdogz]

I have thousands of copyrighted photographs. Use them without my permission and I'll issue a cease and desist letter, too. Continue to use them without paying me contracted royalties and I'll sue. Its the capitalistic, entrepeneuring, free enterprise, American way.

Also, I'm taking the exact same position as JimRob. Got a problem with it, take it up with Jim. The copyrighted intellectual property belongs to the Onion. They WORKED for it. They earn a living from it. It belongs to them. They said we can't use it. What makes you think you can abuse copyright law? ALL they ask is for you to enjoy their material from THEIR website. Comply!

If you think you own the fruit of my labor or The Onion's labor, you must be some sort of damn anti-American communist. Take yerself for a long walk on a short pier.

[Victoria Delsoul]

I won't miss it. Thank you both.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM JIM ROBINSON PING

[Sir Gawain]

[Victoria Delsoul]

LOL!!!

[Eaker]

To: webmaster@freerepublic.com

Dear Free Republic,

It has come to my attention that you have published a number of pictures and content at:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/985909/posts

This material was published by Tom Eaker and the images you are presenting are being served by my server. The material that you are publishing was published without permission of Tom Eaker (or maybe posted by him). Further, the material is copyrighted (or maybe not).

And I think that it is cool as hell that you have given me a venue that allows the world to see some of the fun stuff that the Houston Area Texans have together!!!!

We would have never met without you and these people have made my life so much richer!

Thank you Mr. Robinson!!!!!!!!!!

Eaker

[Eva]

I agree, the Onion articles are not news and not open to copying, no doubt about it. They aren't all that good anyway. Most of the ones that are posted here are very similar to things that are said on post every day. No big deal. We'll find other things to smile about.

[Salvation]

Glad I saw this Jim. Thanks for letting us know.

[Salvation]

As soon as I posted I wondered about providing an excerpt and a link?

[swheats]

Oh well, his loss. Never heard of the Onion until FR.


Jim, these folk just don't want to give you your due. FR probably increased this ingrates site traffic.

[chance33_98]

Well, I will boycott it and make up my own goofy stories here myself, source: 'Not The Onion'. Although, I am sure they will all be in general interest :)

[Delta 21]

I have had a few of my posts from The Onion pulled, but not as many as from HERE ! ! !