PR problem widens for Righthaven with N.C. blogger’s demand for attorney’s fees

[Newsjock]

Source: Las Vegas Sun

Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuit defendant Brian D. Hill's attorneys filed a 56-page motion for dismissal on Monday -- and as a kicker asked the court to require Righthaven to pay their fees as a penalty.

This is just the latest chapter in what has turned out to be a public relations nightmare for Las Vegas-based Righthaven, which enforces copyrights for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post and has filed 250 lawsuits in the past 12 months.

... "Righthaven’s factual and legal deficiencies have been laid bare. The full scope of its ... 'negotiation' with Mr. Hill may need to become an issue," Hill's attorneys said in the filing.

... "Righthaven does not operate a newspaper or otherwise profit from the subject photo, outside of its litigation-for-profit business model, which actually benefits from more, not less, infringement. Such behavior should not be encouraged, but deterred by this court. Righthaven should be ordered to pay, as a `proper penalty,' reasonable attorney’s fees incurred to defend Mr. Hill from this action," they wrote.

Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/business-notebook/2011/mar/22/pr-problem-widens-righthaven-nc-bloggers-demand-at/

[FSogol]

1. Haw-haw. n/t

[loudsue]

2. I hope the judge awards this in favor of Hill, and the fine is big enough

so that Righthaven doesn't see so much "profit" potential in continuing to clog the courts with frivolous lawsuits against liberal bloggers.

[drm604]

4. Righthaven has sued Drudge Report and Free Republic.

They don't just sue liberal bloggers. These guys are in it purely for the money and they go after anybody they think they can bully into settling.

[Brother Buzz]

22. Matt Drudge was sued and settled. Free Republic was sued and settled.

Sharon Angle was sued and settled. Even Alex Jones – Alex Jones of all people – was sued and settled!

FR, like a lot of conservatives, caved rather than fight the good fight. With these recent court decisions, FR is only now starting to make noises about recouping losses.

[plumbob]

3. Yes, these frivolous lawsuits need to end. Award costs and sanction

the attorneys.

[DirkGently]

5. Righthaven's "business model" has been an abuse of the law & courts from the start.

[MedicalAdmin]

6. Just one more grifter in America.

Grifting has been America's business model for at least 30 years. It all started with the grifter in chief - Raygun.

[BonnieJW]

7. Great phrase!

"Litigation-for-profit business model..." This is the business model for Fred Phelps and his "church."

[TheEuclideanOne]

8. What do you mean. Do they sue people?

I never knew that. Thinking about it, how do they make their money? I just thought they were in it for the publicity.

[NeedleCast]

12. Practically the entire family of WBC members are lawyers

They make their money by suing people. The chuch is very small and includes mostly Phelps' family members and spouses (and many of the spouses are also lawyers). The WBC hopes that they will be assaulted or otherwise have their rights infringed on at their rallies so they can so. They might actually be fundamentalist crazies, but mostly, they're lawyers trying to make money.

[crim son]

17. That never occurred to me.

I am absolutely certain that you are right, however. I bet they pray nightly for an opportunity to litigate the crap out of some poor soul who gives in to his/her repugnance and punches one of them in the face.

Gawd, they are utterly vile.

[freshwest]

18. Where did they get their degrees and who licensed them, I wonder. Weird.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Most of them went to Washburn and are licensed in Kansas

[freshwest]

23. Thanks, wonder if they can be disbarred. If for no other reason than poor taste. Ugh.

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Fred was disbarred. So were several others.

[freshwest]

26. Thanks, proud2BlibKansan. Perhaps we'll hear less of these hate mongers.

[groundloop]

9. OOPS !!! Bit off more than they could chew, didn't they?

Righthaven needs to die a very expensive death, they're scum that use our court system for personal profit.

[Renew Deal]

15. Their operation is based on the idea that they can bully small timers into a settlement.

Anyone that fights back hurts the bottom line. If enough fight back, righthaven probably goes down.

[DeSwiss]

10. K&R

[Uncle Joe]

11. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Newsjock.

[LiberalFighter]

13. Las Vegas Review-Journal and Denver Post should suffer the consequences too.

[Snoutport]

14. You typed their name!! Can they sue you now? nt

[Jack Rabbit]

16. The Karma Police have arrested Righthaven

Please click here.

[orbitalman]

19. K & R

[RamboLiberal]

20. Good - these bastards at RH threatened

to go after the young man's disability payments.

[Blue Owl]

24. K&R

:kick: