This blog started when I was beta testing the TypePad platform in 2003.
There were hundreds of posts since then - with comments from people all over the planet - on a ridiculous range of topics. Many inane 'topic of the day' comments on current news, a few serious insights on politics and entertainment as things came up.
There were.
Until about ten minutes ago.
Across those years the traditional media tried to ignore 'the bloggers', and to a large extent the web in general. Most newspapers and magazines now have at least some measure of web presence but their business models still cling to dead-tree past. They hate the web.
They. HATE. The. Web.
Mostly because they don't understand it and they can't control it.
Instead of adapting and expanding and taking advantage of the new technology, many of those media companies have taken on the bunker mentality of ignoring the obvious and blindly reacting as they feel threatened.
They are withering away and grasping at anything they think will bring in a dollar. Craigslist decimated the classified ad business that many newspapers relied on to support their other operations, and they had no marketable response.
Over the last few months, a new 'model' has emerged for some of these pathetic shell companies. Sue everybody.
A media company in Las Vegas created a lawsuit factory known as Righthaven.
The sole purpose of this company is to troll the web, looking for any content that may have originated with one of their related media outlets. They then 'purchase' the copyright to that particular content and immediately sue the site they find this content on - sue for both monetary damages and the forfieture of the domain name. (They don't really want the domain name - it's an extortion tactic intended to force a monetary settlement...)
This 'business model' is repulsive on a couple of points. Copyright law has a 'fair-use' doctrine intended to protect discussion and examples for public distribution. It in no way diminishes the rights of the content originator, but ensures the dissemination of valuable information.
In addition, the DMCA spells out a procedure for copyright holders to protect and enforce their rights as to online content.
Righthaven violates both, in that they do not recognize any 'fair-use' discussion, and they bypass the DMCA process by filing lawsuits immediately instead of utilizing the proscribed 'DMCA Take-Down Notice' procedure.
They simply try to extort a revenue stream from the bloggers and news sites that have sprung up over the past decade. A profitable proposition - on paper. All these folks in their pajamas should just fold and fork over a few thousand bucks to avoid a trial and larger possible losses.
Except. People are out there that actually
1)Know the law, and
2) Know how the internet actually works.
While only one entity has taken them all the way to trial - they won. And while many are wondering how well the method of intimidation is working, others have been busy programming.
http://righthavenvictims.blogspot.com is a collection of the various violations as they become available. (Seems to be similar in construction to the RIAA abuse monitor HERE.)
The victims site also links to something that the Righthaven folks probably never saw coming.
If you aren't too well versed on how the internet and web-browsers work, let's just say there are 'address books' and just like your personal phone book, you may have people listed that you 'never call'. Maybe you have a 'block list' on your caller ID that redirects obnoxious phone calls.
Implementing a proper Hosts file blacklist works in much the same way. It makes sense if you are a blogger - or even just a commenter on blogs - but especially if you control a company network. Just don't allow any traffic to go to those related sites.
And there are a growing number of bankrupt companies (or near bankrupt) on the list that use Righthaven - as noted HERE
It can't be said enough - BLOCK THEM
Do not use them as a reference in apost - obviously.
More importantly - don't VISIT them. Period.
Site traffic = money. They have completely ignored and discounted the value of traffice sent their way from sites like The Drudge Report and countless blogs that offer comments on their content.
Dont' give them traffic that they obviously don't want.
Protect your company from a possible lawsuit by not allowing your company servers to contact their sites. BLOCK THEM
Protect your personal property by never referencing their partners in a posting - anywhere. BLOCK THEM
I just spent twenty minutes purging 7 years of content the 'might' draw these bottom-feeders. I don't have the time or inclination to re-edit those years of postings to see if there could be something their lawyers could construct as 'infringing' - or at least infringing enough to sue over.
So the posts are gone.
And so are those co-conspirator companies - BLOCK THEM
My browser is now blocked from even accesing those sites, and you can - and should - do the same. Even if you see them as a 'favorite' site - there are alternatives. Seek them out and do not reward these modern day 'e-thug' lawyers.