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

[ClancyJ]

Thanks Jim and congratulations! Looks like LAT and WP lost a lot more than we did. Doesn't look like very good pr for them - we have a widespread readership.

[martin_fierro]

Help yourself! More here.

[bert]

Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel unless you have servers with terrabyte capacity.

[Bobalu]

Maybe we should convert their articles to ebonics or whatever seems silliest and post em here as parodies... might be fun.. ;-)

[Angelwood]

FReep On, Jim!

[brityank]

Ping.

can we consider this to be FR's Independence Day ??

[Temple Owl]

Oops I meant the LAT, not the NYT, although that's in the same flock.

[usconservative]

If you had the funds, I'm sure that you would have prevailed in the courts. - The settlement proves that they thought so too, but it is good to have this thorn removed.

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.

[editor-surveyor]

This is a tragedy of biblical proportions for the boys over at "Free Republic Death Watch".

Heh heh...

My guess is that they'll have to go back to gazing at Playboy centerfolds to make their hand-candy work ;o)

[PoisedWoman]

Congratulations, Jim. This is an excellent settlement. Kudos to FR attorneys and you.

[cantfindagoodscreenname]

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.

LOL! Too funny! I'm happy to hear that we're still here and not going anywhere. Congrats!

[Tijeras_Slim]

May WP and LAT both become so irrelevent that they BEG to be mentioned on the stall walls of a bus station!
Long Live FR!

[Just another Joe]

WOOOOHOOOOO!!
It may not be a win but I'ld say that the balance is certainly on FR's side.

[EternalVigilance]

Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition!!

Congrats! :-)

[beckett]

Very, very good news. Congratulations Jim on a well executed legal battle fought on principle. I understand that you don't see it as a clean win, but from my perspective it looks like LAT/WP crawled down from the "off-with-FR's-head" belligerent attitude they started out with.

Smells like victory to me!

[Cool Guy]

can we consider this to be FR's Independence Day ??

Sounds good, Brityank. Let us celebrate this every year :) Let us plan our next National meet on this day to celebrate this victory.

[MeekOneGOP]

Muchos Gracias for the fast heads up, FRiend !

[pt17]

It's a win. Many attaboys to you and all who supported you.

[tracer]

Liners for the bird cage, indeed. If not for the fact that printer's ink is allergenic and messy, the WP and the LAT would make for an excellent substitute for Charmin.

They and their crack legal teams must be bursting with pride about now -- and wondering how to spend their $5,000 windfalls........

[Senator Pardek]

Is it 9:30 yet?