Raw Story threatened after Abramoff-nonprofit article

[cal04]

after critical article, conservative nonprofit accuses Raw Story of violating copyright
The National Center for Public Policy Research, the conservative nonprofit where fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff served as a director, has instructed RAW STORY to remove a fundraising letter the group sent in 2004.

Noland MacKenzie Canter, III, a lawyer for the group, says the publication of the center’s fundraising letter violates their copyright. To many outside Washington, the center is known for being the group that Abramoff used to cover posh junkets for former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX). RAW STORY published the letter in January of 2005. The story it accompanied detailed the effort by the conservative nonprofit to raise money from senior citizens by disguising a solicitation for a political donation under the guise of a “Task Force” to save Social Security.

Sent amidst a climate of growing concern about the Social Security program, the group's letters targeted seniors of both parties, aiming to convince them their Social Security benefits were in jeopardy in hopes of inducing them to donate money. The mailings also encouraged seniors to keep the missive secret from others, perhaps even from family members. "Inside your sealed envelope is information regarding the potential collapse of the Social Security system -- and how it can endanger you and the entire United States senior citizen population," NCPPR president Amy Ridenour writes on behalf of the National Social Security Task Force (Read the letter here). "It is also critical that you share this pertinent information ONLY with other trustworthy individuals."

The task force appears little more than a paper dragon. When asked about why it wasn’t mentioned on the center's website, NCPPR executive director David Almasi told RAW STORY in 2005, “We currently have Internet access in our office.” Canter says the letter came to his attention only after this site ran an article raising questions about Ridenour and her ties to an Abramoff client, the prime minister of Malaysia. When asked why the group declined to seek the letter’s removal when it was initially published, Canter said, “I don’t have any comment.” “The first it came to my attention was after that Feb. 21 article was published,” he added.

rest of the story
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/After_critical_article_conservative_nonprofit_accuses_0303.html

[Hissyspit]

1. Copyright???

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...!

What a joke.

Reminds me of the time some mall business ran off grade school kids who were doing an art class assignment by drawing the facade of the business. They claimed the kids were violating "copyright."

Copyright law is MAJORLY abused in this country as a way to claim rights no one actually has in order to suppress freedom of expression.

What a joke.

[Betsy Ross]

2. How many copies of the letter were mailed?

Did it contain a copyright mark? If not, I think they are out of luck.

[rocktivity]

3. TORO TURD!

Letters belong to the people they're mailed to once they've received them. Whoever gave it to Rawstory had every right to do so--it was his or her property!

:headbang:
rocknation

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Promotional material

is meant to be copied and passed along. Especially if they emailed it. Don't these turkeys have anything better to do? They sure love frivolous lawsuits.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Copyright on a FUNDRAISING LETTER?

:rofl: That's pretty damn funny. I think the way Rawstory is handling it is good though. If they print letter excerpts, word for word...that works for me.:)

[Generic Other]

6. Looks like they removed the letter

Anyone have a copy?

[dorkulon]

7. Move over Linda Tripp!

[rocktivity]

8. Harris and Hannity are just good friends.

At least, they probably have have been since she played "Bounce Your Boobies" on Hannity and Colmes back in August!



:headbang:
rocknation