Righthaven lawsuits backfire, reduce protections for newspapers

[Newsjock]

Source: Las Vegas Sun

... Some 250 Righthaven lawsuits later, Righthaven's startling achievement is that newspapers now have less -- not more -- protection from copyright infringers.

Righthaven may argue its lawsuits have deterred rampant online infringements of newspaper material -- but there's no proof that infringements it usually targets involving bloggers and special-interest websites ever affected newspaper revenue in the first place.

... Further hurting the cause of the R-J and Righthaven, and probably the Post down the road, is that Righthaven critics are pointing out there can be no market harm proven in these lawsuits since there is no market -- that is, Righthaven owns the copyrights and doesn't use or license them except for lawsuits.

... Jason Schultz, co-director of the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic at the University of California-Berkeley ... said the rulings weakening Righthaven's copyright claims should serve as a warning to the newspaper industry about doing business with Righthaven.

Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/business-notebook/2011/mar/19/righthaven-lawsuits-backfire-reduce-protections-ne/

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. I was shocked that newspapers would ever want to do business with a legal group like this

...in the first place. It would seem that the Denver Post is drawing far more negative publicity when it's attack dogs at Righthaven sue an autistic teen posting on a blog from his grandmother's basement. I fail to see how the Denver Post or any other newspaper benefits from being cast as heartless bullies because of the actions of Righthaven.

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. Glad things are backfiring on righthaven

[Adsos Letter]

3. I wonder how much money Righthaven has made off its lawsuits.