Righthaven Stories

Since March 2010, Righthaven has teamed with the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post to file a whopping 275 federal lawsuits alleging copyright infringement and seeking damages of $150,000 apiece.

These lawsuits are filed in retroactive fashion, meaning if someone posted a Review-Journal story without authorization in December, Righthaven spotted the infringement in January, obtained the copyright to the story in February and sued the unsuspecting defendant in March.

The suits say Righthaven has the right to collect damages for infringements, be they in the past, the present or the future. Internet sites, bloggers and message board posters throughout North America and in Europe are accused in the suits of posting, without authorization, on their websites partial or entire stories from those newspapers, as well as editorials, columns, graphics and photos.

Archive highlights

Righthaven: The controversy over copyrights

Mon, Jul 25, 2011

The time has come to add copyright lawsuits—alongside casinos—as one of the things Las Vegas is best known for nationally. Copyright lawsuits? Yes, in national legal and media circles, Las ...

Judge: Righthaven masquerading as a company

Thu, Jul 14, 2011

A judge today fined newspaper copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas $5,000 for misleading Nevada’s federal court about its lawsuits.

Righthaven hurts news industry, one ruling at a time

Sun, Jun 26, 2011

Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist and former Publisher Sherman Frederick’s column today involving his “little friend” Righthaven could be Exhibit A in the case against Righthaven’s litigation strategy.

Legal attack dog sicked on websites accused of violating R-J copyrights

Wed, Aug 4, 2010

When it comes to fighting copyright theft in the news industry — the piracy of stories, editorials, columns, photos and videos — there are watchdogs and there are attack dogs.

All stories

Drudge Report owner sued by Righthaven

Thu, Dec 9, 2010

Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC on Wednesday filed its second copyright infringement lawsuit over Denver Post material, this time suing a big target: Drudge Report operator Matt Drudge.

Ties between Stephens Media, Righthaven copyright lawsuit at issue

Wed, Dec 8, 2010

Attorneys for the Democratic Underground political website are fighting efforts by Las Vegas-based newspaper company Stephens Media LLC to distance itself from a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against the Democratic ...

Righthaven now working with Media News, sues over Denver Post column

Sun, Dec 5, 2010

Las Vegas-based newspaper copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC is now doing business with Media News Group and has sued a blogger for alleged copyright infringement involving a column from the ...

Righthaven pressing for right to seize website domain names

Fri, Dec 3, 2010

Las Vegas newspaper copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC and its critics now agree on one thing: There is no basis in U.S. copyright law for forfeiture to Righthaven of infringing ...

Righthaven defends copyright suit against Oregon nonprofit

Tue, Nov 30, 2010

As ordered by a federal judge, Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC offered arguments Monday as to why one of its newspaper copyright infringement lawsuits should not be dismissed ...

About Righthaven

Mon, Nov 29, 2010

Righthaven LLC is the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s copyright enforcement partner that since March has sued at least 176 website operators and bloggers throughout North American in U.S. District Court for ...

Illustration at issue in latest Righthaven copyright lawsuits

Fri, Nov 26, 2010

Newspaper maps, graphics and illustrations deserve copyright protection, too. That's the lesson that may be gleaned from two of the latest copyright infringement lawsuits filed in federal court in Las ...

Union challenges Righthaven's demand for legal fees in copyright suit

Wed, Nov 24, 2010

A division of the Teamsters union has signaled it's not going to be railroaded into paying the legal fees of Las Vegas online copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC.

Judge to Righthaven: Show why lawsuit shouldn't be dismissed

Mon, Nov 22, 2010

A federal judge in Las Vegas is examining whether another Righthaven online copyright infringement lawsuit should be dismissed on fair use grounds.

Two more website operators face Righthaven copyright lawsuits

Thu, Nov 18, 2010

Two more website operators were hit with copyright infringement lawsuits Wednesday after material from the Las Vegas Review-Journal allegedly was posted on their sites without authorization.

Righthaven settles with Sharron Angle over R-J story posting

Wed, Nov 17, 2010

Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC has reached a confidential settlement of its online copyright infringement lawsuit against defeated U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle.

Righthaven seeks to dismiss suit over posting of R-J story

Tue, Nov 16, 2010

The Las Vegas Review-Journal's copyright enforcement company no longer wants to litigate one of its more controversial cases: a complaint against the big political website the Democratic Underground.

Free speech group files counterclaim against copyright enforcement firm

Sat, Oct 30, 2010

The online freedom of speech group Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) continues to pound away on the business model of Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC, with its attorneys hitting ...

Righthaven gets legal win in copyright lawsuit campaign

Thu, Oct 28, 2010

Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC scored an initial legal victory in one of its lawsuits Thursday when a federal judge declined to dismiss the case. Thursday's ruling may ...

Righthaven files 2 copyright lawsuits, settles 3

Wed, Oct 27, 2010

Two website operators were sued for copyright infringement Tuesday by Righthaven LLC, boosting Righthaven’s lawsuit total since March to at least 159.

Six more website operators facing Righthaven copyright lawsuits

Thu, Oct 21, 2010

Hotel management students in Canada are receiving a lesson in U.S. copyright law courtesy of Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC.

Righthaven defendant wins first lawsuit dismissal motion

Wed, Oct 20, 2010

The Las Vegas Review-Journal online copyright infringement lawsuit campaign sustained a setback Tuesday when a judge granted a real estate agent's motion for dismissal, ruling his posting of part of ...

Righthaven files, settles more copyright lawsuits

Wed, Oct 13, 2010

Las Vegas newspaper copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC sued five more website operators Tuesday, alleging infringements of Las Vegas Review-Journal material.

Sharron Angle signals interest in settling copyright lawsuit

Sat, Oct 9, 2010

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle is signaling she’s interested in settling a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against her by the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s copyright enforcement partner.

Attorneys accuse Righthaven of settlement shakedown

Fri, Oct 8, 2010

Defense attorneys are complaining that Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC is trying to force defendants into settling by running up legal bills with its aggressive litigation tactics.

Videos

Dead in the Water?
Dead in the Water?
A federal judge has called Righthaven's tactics in suing to protect online content not just ...

More Information

What is a copyright?

According to the US Copyright Office, copyright is a form of intellectual property law that protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic and musical works, and artistic works such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software and architecture. Such protection encourages creativity.

Under the fair use doctrine of the US copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work, including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, news reporting and scholarly reports. What is fair use is decided on a case-by-case basis, with judges often relying on evolving case law.

Righthaven’s numbers as of July 15

• Of Righthaven’s 276 lawsuits, all but one involved material from the Las Vegas Review-Journal and the Denver Post. One suit was filed over sports betting material that didn’t involve a newspaper.

• Righthaven’s lawsuits were filed in Las Vegas, Denver and Charleston, SC.

213 Righthaven lawsuits involve Las Vegas Review-Journal material. After settlements and dismissals, 79 were active.

62 involved Denver Post material and 34 were active.

What others are saying about Righthaven

"Plaintiff’s litigation strategy has a chilling effect on potential fair uses of Righthaven-owned articles, diminishes public access to the facts contained therein and does nothing to advance the Copyright Act’s purpose of promoting artistic creation.”— U.S. District Judge James Mahan in Las Vegas

"The purpose of the courts is to provide a forum for the orderly, just, and timely resolution of controversies and disputes. Plaintiff’s (Righthaven’s) wishes to the contrary, the courts are not merely tools for encouraging and exacting settlements from defendants cowed by the potential costs of litigation and liability.’’ — U.S. District Judge John Kane in Denver

"Righthaven and Stephens Media have attempted to create a cottage industry of filing copyright claims, making large claims for damages and then settling claims for pennies on the dollar, with defendants who do not want to incur the costs of defending the lawsuits, (and) are now offended when someone has turned the tables on them and insisting on a judgment in their favor rather than a simple dismissal of the lawsuit.” — U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt in Las Vegas

"I’m asking you nicely once again—don’t steal our content. Or, I promise you, you will meet my little friend called Righthaven.” — Sherman Frederick, at the time publisher of the Las Vegas Review-Journal

"Where the law has created a legal way to extort money from hapless netizens, Righthaven has stepped in for some quick cash. They’re not evil geniuses. They’re not right-wing extremists. They’re not left-wing zealots. The truth is much worse. They’re just jerks.” — Eric Johnson, associate professor of law at the University of North Dakota

"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 netizens and intimidate journalists, bloggers and others. Therefore, we ask you to drop the lawsuit against him and find a reasonable compromise regarding his case.”— International press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, in a letter to the Denver Post regarding a Righthaven lawsuit against young autistic blogger Brian Hill and Righthaven’s $6,000 settlement demand along with its threat to garnish his Social Security Disability Insurance income at the rate of $50 per month for 10 years.