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

Book, record industries attack Righthaven fair use ruling

Mon, Dec 5, 2011

The U.S. book and music industries, as expected, on Monday asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco for permission to participate in one of the Righthaven ...

Music, book industries may back Righthaven

Sun, Dec 4, 2011

The U.S. music and book publishing industries may intervene on behalf of Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas in one of its copyright lawsuits, an attorney said Sunday.

Righthaven offers new argument in bid to revive lawsuit

Wed, Nov 30, 2011

Copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas is trotting out a new argument as it seeks to revive one of its lawsuits that was dismissed.

Righthaven still kicking, files appeals briefs

Wed, Nov 23, 2011

Even as creditors try to seize its assets for nonpayment of debts, Righthaven LLC showed Tuesday it was alive and kicking. The Las-Vegas based company made its presence known by ...

Righthaven CEO pressured to reveal location of cash

Sat, Nov 19, 2011

Pressure mounted Friday on Righthaven LLC CEO Steven Gibson to explain how the firm can continue to operate while at the same time failing to pay off more than $216,000 ...

R-J won't contest fair use finding in key Righthaven case

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

The Las Vegas Review-Journal won't object to a court ruling finding in favor of a Righthaven LLC copyright lawsuit defendant.

Attorneys seek to auction Righthaven copyrights

Mon, Nov 14, 2011

Attorneys fighting Las Vegas copyright company Righthaven LLC asked for a court order Monday to have Righthaven’s assets auctioned off — notably including the very copyrights Righthaven sues over.

Attorney complains about anti-Righthaven campaign

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

A Las Vegas lawyer for copyright company Righthaven LLC complained Friday that opposing attorneys are engaged in “scorched-earth, anti-Righthaven litigation tactics.”

Marshals execute against Righthaven bank account

Thu, Nov 10, 2011

The U.S. Marshals Service has made some progress in seizing the assets of copyright company Righthaven LLC, disclosing Thursday it has served a writ of execution on a Las Vegas ...

Attorneys seek to examine Righthaven CEO about company finances

Mon, Nov 7, 2011

Attorneys trying to collect $63,720 in fees from Righthaven LLC stepped up the pressure Sunday, asking a court to require that Righthaven’s CEO and his wife be ordered to appear ...

Sixth judge rules against Righthaven

Sun, Nov 6, 2011

Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas struck out again in court Friday when a sixth judge ruled it lacked standing to file copyright infringement lawsuits.

Righthaven may contest creditor’s writ to seize its assets

Thu, Nov 3, 2011

Copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas signaled Wednesday that a creditor will have to jump through more hoops before it gains control of Righthaven’s assets.

Marshals ordered to seize Righthaven assets

Tue, Nov 1, 2011

Las Vegas copyright infringement lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC’s financial problems grew Tuesday when the federal court in Las Vegas commanded the U.S. Marshals Service to seize more than $63,000 in ...

First Righthaven trial called off

Tue, Nov 1, 2011

The first scheduled trial in a Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuit was called off Tuesday so a judge could consider whether Righthaven had standing to file the suit.

Righthaven misses deadlines, again faces asset seizure threat

Sat, Oct 29, 2011

In a familiar pattern, Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC missed deadlines in two of its lawsuits Friday, prompting a creditor in one of the suits Saturday to again ...

Defense attorneys hit Righthaven lawyer with sanctions motion

Wed, Oct 26, 2011

Las Vegas copyright infringement lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC was hit with another legal problem Tuesday in the form of a sanctions motion against its main outside attorney.

Legal attacks under way in advance of first Righthaven trial

Tue, Oct 25, 2011

The first trial in a Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuit is set for Nov. 7, causing Righthaven and an adversary to now blame each other for not resolving the suit ...

Another judge doubtful of Righthaven’s standing to sue

Fri, Oct 21, 2011

A federal judge suggested Friday he’ll dismiss another Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuit because of the company’s lack of standing to sue over Las Vegas Review-Journal material.

Righthaven hits another snag with copyright lawsuit

Thu, Oct 20, 2011

Copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC was hit with another setback on Thursday — this time in South Carolina.

Appeals court rejects Righthaven’s 'urgent motion'

Wed, Oct 19, 2011

An appeals court Wednesday refused to block a creditor’s collection actions against Righthaven LLC, the Las Vegas newspaper copyright infringement lawsuit filer.

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.