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Thursday, March 3, 2011 | 7:29 p.m.
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What’s the biggest public relations headache for Las Vegas copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC and the Denver Post?
Is it South Carolina blogger Dana Eiser, who’s been releasing correspondence between her attorneys and Righthaven’s attorneys?
Or is it North Carolina blogger Brian D. Hill, whose case over a Denver Post TSA pat-down photo has already yielded a favorable ruling for him by a Denver federal judge?
With at least one Denver media outlet focusing on Hill, he’s probably the biggest problem currently facing Righthaven and the Post. Hill’s case has attracted attention because he says he has disabilities and can’t pay Righthaven’s $6,000 settlement demand.
Those problems over Hill were compounded Thursday when Denver Westword reported the international press freedom group Reporters Without Borders had sent a letter to the Post protesting the suit against Hill.
The letter also protests Righthaven’s $150,000 lawsuit demand against Bill Hyatt over a Las Vegas Review-Journal story.
“We were surprised to witness such behavior here, in the United States, while this is generally a phenomenon Reporters Without Borders witnesses in authoritarian regimes to silence citizens and intimidate journalists, bloggers and others. Therefore, we ask you to drop the lawsuit against him (Hill) and find a reasonable compromise regarding his case,” the letter said.
No doubt Hill is on the mind of Post executives.
In the long run, though, look for Eiser to give Righthaven and the Post more legal troubles as she’s represented by four South Carolina attorneys who are politically connected and know their way around the courthouses there.
They also seem determined to force Righthaven to pay up for what they call an unfair lawsuit against Eiser over the posting of a Denver Post column. Their latest demand from Righthaven: $500,000 to be paid to Eiser.
Righthaven is on the ropes. New filings have dropped 70% from January to February from a record 32 to 10. They are encountering more resistance from the people they are suing which is driving up costs considerably. Their client newspapers are feeling the heat as well and are now reassessing their relationship with Righthaven. Unless their backers are willing to lose millions over this Righthaven will be convulsing money very shortly.
Righthaven lawyers and employees may want to start updating their resumes. My advise to them is don't tell anyone you were ever affiliated with Righthaven if you ever want to be employed again.
Ah... equating the LVRJ with Third World freedom of speech issues. Sounds just about right.
I hope they hang these righthaven scum bags out to dry.
There should be an investigation by the UN of this whole Reichtklaven business.
There should be a trial in the Hague for the mastermind of this fiendish scheme.