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

Judge throws out 2 more Righthaven copyright lawsuits

Fri, Sep 2, 2011

Two more Righthaven LLC newspaper copyright infringement lawsuit defendants can rest easier this holiday weekend after a judge dismissed their cases Friday.

Critics: Righthaven not entitled to a 'mulligan'

Wed, Aug 31, 2011

Critics of Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas say it shouldn’t be granted a mulligan after repeatedly misfiring with its copyright infringement lawsuits.

Righthaven denies defaming copyright defendant

Fri, Aug 26, 2011

Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC is denying charges that CEO Steven Gibson defamed a Righthaven defendant when he said the firm’s lawsuits target "a community of thieves."

Righthaven says foe is jeopardizing its due process rights

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Las Vegas copyright litigator Righthaven LLC is complaining that one of its many legal foes is trying to deprive Righthaven of its due process rights.

Judge again suggests Righthaven is practicing law without a license

Wed, Aug 24, 2011

A federal judge today suggested for a second time that Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC has been involved in the unauthorized practice of law.

Seventh Righthaven lawsuit dismissed for lack of standing

Sun, Aug 21, 2011

Another heavily-litigated Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuit has been dismissed because of Righthaven’s lack of standing to sue over Las Vegas Review-Journal content.

Five Righthaven suits dismissed for lack of service

Thu, Aug 18, 2011

As a mass copyright lawsuit filer, Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas continues to struggle to actually prosecute many of the lawsuits it files.

Righthaven defendant wins second attorney’s fee award

Mon, Aug 15, 2011

In yet another stunning reversal for Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC, the company won’t be collecting any damages from a man it once branded as a copyright infringer.

Righthaven, critics take shots at each other

Mon, Aug 15, 2011

With complaints piling up about copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC, Righthaven says the criticism is getting out of hand in one case and it’s objecting to what it calls a ...

Judge asks for more information in Righthaven copyright case

Sat, Aug 13, 2011

A Las Vegas judge signaled Friday that he wants to take a closer look at one of the Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuits — and that may not be good ...

Righthaven's standing to file copyright suits challenged

Thu, Aug 11, 2011

Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC has been lying to a federal judge as it tries to avoid the consequences of its lawsuits, defense attorneys charged Wednesday.

R-J owner fighting copyright suit fraud allegations

Sun, Aug 7, 2011

The Stephens Media LLC newspaper chain is denying allegations that its copyright lawsuit campaign involves a fraud perpetrated on Nevada’s federal judges.

Defense attorneys step up criticism of Righthaven

Sun, Aug 7, 2011

Stephens Media LLC says its lawsuit partner Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas is addressing a "parasitic" business model in which newspaper content is regularly stolen by copyright infringers.

Judge delivers more criticism over copyright lawsuits

Tue, Aug 2, 2011

A judge in Las Vegas delivered yet another serving of criticism Tuesday to copyright lawsuit company Righthaven LLC. U.S. District Judge Roger Hunt warned Righthaven to stop wasting time and ...

Righthaven tries to revive Denver Post lawsuits

Mon, Aug 1, 2011

Las Vegas copyright lawsuit company Righthaven LLC is offering a new argument as it tries to prove it has the right to sue over Denver Post material.

Judge tosses another Righthaven copyright lawsuit

Wed, Jul 27, 2011

Another Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuit was dismissed in Las Vegas today — but Righthaven attorneys scored at least an interim legal victory when a judge refused to immediately shut ...

Righthaven denies perpetrating a fraud upon the courts

Tue, Jul 26, 2011

Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas, the serial newspaper copyright infringement lawsuit filer, denied allegations Tuesday that it’s trying to perpetrate a fraud upon the courts.

Quick answers on Righthaven

Mon, Jul 25, 2011

Have the Righthaven lawsuits affected the reputation of the Las Vegas Review-Journal? What has Righthaven accomplished with its 275 lawsuits?

What others are saying about Righthaven

Mon, Jul 25, 2011

Here’s what federal judges and commentators have said about Righthaven.

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 ...

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.