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

Righthaven fighting demand for attorney's fees

Sun, Jul 24, 2011

Newspaper copyright infringement lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas is arguing it shouldn’t have to pay a defendant’s legal fees -- even after the lawsuit at issue was thrown ...

Attorneys: Righthaven's latest action amounts to fraud

Fri, Jul 22, 2011

Attorneys fighting Las Vegas copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC say its latest effort to revive its litigation campaign should be rejected as a scheme to “revitalize Righthaven’s fraud on the ...

Former R-J publisher's blog post being used against Righthaven in copyright lawsuit

Sat, Jul 16, 2011

A blog post this week by former Las Vegas Review-Journal Publisher Sherman Frederick is now being used against Righthaven LLC in one of its copyright lawsuits.

Ruling that Righthaven misled court likely to be felt in other cases

Thu, Jul 14, 2011

A federal judge’s finding Thursday that newspaper copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC misled the court will likely be used in one or more planned legal actions against Righthaven and its ...

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 refiles copyright suit after dismissal

Wed, Jul 13, 2011

Hours after a federal judge dismissed a Righthaven copyright lawsuit against Dean Mostofi on Wednesday, Righthaven sued Mostofi again — this time based on its updated lawsuit contract with the ...

Third judge rejects R-J copyright suit arrangement

Wed, Jul 13, 2011

Efforts by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC to revive their lawsuit campaign sustained another setback today when a third federal judge ruled Righthaven has no standing ...

Righthaven litigating over defendants' fees, hit with new allegations

Tue, Jul 12, 2011

Las Vegas newspaper copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC won a ruling over disputed legal fees Monday – and said Tuesday it may appeal an earlier order requiring it to pay ...

Harvard project spreading the news about Righthaven

Sun, Jul 10, 2011

An agency at Harvard University wants judges, attorneys and Internet publishers everywhere to know about the profound implications of the Righthaven LLC newspaper copyright infringement lawsuits.

Attorneys seek fee injunction against Righthaven

Sat, Jul 9, 2011

Attorneys fighting Las Vegas copyright lawsuit company Righthaven LLC are asking a judge to freeze $3,815 in Righthaven assets so they can get paid.Attorneys fighting Las Vegas copyright lawsuit company ...

Righthaven/Denver Post pact made public, criticism follows

Fri, Jul 8, 2011

A new round of criticism erupted Friday over the Righthaven copyright infringement lawsuits after the Las Vegas firm’s litigation contract with the Denver Post was made public.

Righthaven amends lawsuit contract again

Fri, Jul 8, 2011

Newspaper copyright infringement lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC tried again Friday to revive its litigation campaign.

Critic blames Righthaven CEO for misrepresentations

Fri, Jul 8, 2011

Righthaven LLC has "tarnished the integrity of the justice system’" and CEO Steven Gibson is personally responsible for his company’s misrepresentations to federal judges, an opposing attorney charged Thursday.

Righthaven faces $119,000 legal fee demand

Thu, Jul 7, 2011

Unsuccessful copyright infringement lawsuits filed by Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas are threatening to become more costly, with attorneys for another prevailing defendant now demanding Righthaven pay their $119,457 in ...

Righthaven ordered to pay defendant’s legal fees

Wed, Jul 6, 2011

One of the Righthaven LLC copyright lawsuits turned out to be a money loser for the Las Vegas company after a series of errors, culminating Tuesday in an award of ...

Defendant: Righthaven should pay $34,000 for legal fees

Tue, Jul 5, 2011

Las Vegas newspaper copyright lawsuit filer Righthaven LLC should pay $34,000 to cover a prevailing defendant’s legal fees, the defendant’s attorneys argued Tuesday. The $34,000 could be just the tip ...

Former defendant recalls Righthaven copyright ordeal

Mon, Jul 4, 2011

A former Righthaven LLC defendant marked the Fourth of July by recalling her ordeal with a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by the Las Vegas company.

New attacks launched on Righthaven litigation campaign

Sat, Jul 2, 2011

The copyright infringement lawsuit campaign of Righthaven LLC of Las Vegas faces new attacks by three defendants. Since March 2010, Righthaven has filed 274 federal lawsuits alleging online copyright infringement ...

Righthaven settles $150,000 copyright suit for $1,000

Fri, Jul 1, 2011

Las Vegas copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC appears to have dramatically reduced the amount of money it will accept to settle and close a case.

Commentary: Righthaven, Stephens Media filings leave plenty for judge to ponder

Thu, Jun 30, 2011

Ninety-eight. That’s the number of Righthaven LLC copyright infringement lawsuits in which Righthaven CEO Steven Gibson was one of the attorneys of record for his own company. That information wasn’t ...

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.