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Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/DozierInternetLaw/InternetLawyer/prweb650951.htm May 2, 2008 - Our rebuttal is in blue type. Mr Dozier gives what is obvioulsy his "professional opinion" on this case while we give what is our "pro se" opinion on the case and on his misplaced "opinion". The relevant parts at issue are below. The rest edited out for readibility. |
REBUTTAL ~ REBUTTAL ~ REBUTTAL ~ REBUTTAL Federal Court Recognizes Copyright Rights In Cease And DesistOur Rebuttal To This Misinformation
Posted by Dozier Internet Law on PRWeb on January 24, 2008/ Rebuttal Posted by Tabberone May 2, 2008 US District Court decision threatens common practice reports Dozier Internet Law.
Glen Allen, VA (PRWEB) January 24, 2008 -- The US District Court for the District of Idaho has found that copyright law protects a lawyer
demand letter posted online by the recipient (Case No. MS-07-6236-EJL-MHW).
The Final Judgment calls into serious question the practice of posting lawyer cease and desist letters online, a common tactic used and touted by First Amendment
groups to attack legal efforts at resolving everything from defamation to intellectual property disputes.
The Court, in its decision, found that a copyright had been adequately established in a lawyer's cease and desist letter. The unauthorized publication of the
letter, therefore, can expose the publisher to liability. Statutory damages under the US Copyright Act can be as much as $150,000 per occurrence plus
attorneys' fees that can average $750,000 through trial. The publisher of the letter raised First Amendment and "fair use" arguments without success.
John W. Dozier, Jr., Esq., President of Dozier Internet Law, PC, was not surprised by the decision. "In today's world, anticipating how the Courts will view
'new age' arguments is not easy. Dozier Internet Law has been using copyright protected cease and desist letters for years with great success in protecting our
business clients and preventing an escalation of a situation. The publication of cease and desist letters is an easy way for scofflaws to generate online
'mobosphere' support for illegal activity and, until today, many businesses have been hesitant to take action to address some of the lawlessness online
because of possible retaliation and attacks."
Dozier Internet Law specializes in protecting the intellectual property and reputations of online business. Mr. Dozier believes that the decision will return
pre-litigation notices and negotiations to a state of normalcy and allow businesses to more effectively police their interests online. He noted that prior to the
Internet, private legal disputes were handled between attorneys with a focus on avoiding costly legal battles and not burdening the judicial system with legal
cases that should have been resolved without a lawsuit. Since the posting of cease and desist letters became a popular practice, fueled predominantly by
guidance and legal advice from "free speech" organizations located in the US, businesses have either allowed theft and lawlessness to continue or immediately
filed a lawsuit that can take many years to resolve. "It's a great day for businesses and a bad day for those conducting illegal activity online," Dozier said.
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