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 disputes judge's criticism on disclosures

Wed, Jun 29, 2011

Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC is disputing assertions by a federal judge that it was involved in a "factually brazen" misrepresentation to the court.

Another judge threatens to dismiss Righthaven copyright suits

Wed, Jun 29, 2011

A fifth federal judge is threatening to dismiss newspaper copyright infringement lawsuits filed by Righthaven LLC.

Two groups ask high court to shut down Righthaven in South Carolina

Mon, Jun 27, 2011

Two groups today asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to shut down Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC in that state.

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.

Rulings against Righthaven seized upon by more defendants

Sat, Jun 25, 2011

Rulings by federal judges against copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC this month are now being used against Righthaven in lawsuits in Nevada, Colorado and South Carolina.

Righthaven now likening itself to patent enforcers

Fri, Jun 24, 2011

As it works to continue its lawsuit campaign, Las Vegas newspaper copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC is saying that case law in the patent field supports its litigation-driven business model.

Judge keeps Righthaven copyright lawsuit alive

Fri, Jun 24, 2011

Newspaper copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC received a much-needed boost Thursday when a federal judge refused to dismiss one of its lawsuits over Las Vegas Review-Journal material.

Judge tosses Righthaven suit against former prosecutor

Wed, Jun 22, 2011

Another bitterly-contested Righthaven copyright infringement lawsuit was dismissed in Las Vegas today – but this time there was no determination about fair use.

Righthaven hit with third fair use loss over R-J material

Mon, Jun 20, 2011

A Kentucky man did not infringe on a copyright when he posted an entire Las Vegas Review-Journal column on a message board without authorization, a federal judge ruled today.

Righthaven 'chilling effect' prompts nonprofit to adjust

Mon, Jun 20, 2011

Depending on one’s point of view, Las Vegas copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC has either succeeded in deterring infringements of newspaper industry content — or its no-warning lawsuits have unfairly spread ...

State Bar still reviewing grievances against Righthaven

Thu, Jun 16, 2011

A federal judge’s comment that Las Vegas-based copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC likely engaged in deceitful and dishonest conduct has not gone unnoticed by the State Bar of Nevada. A Bar ...

Commentary: Righthaven may have drawn wrong judge to tangle with

Wed, Jun 15, 2011

A few months ago we suggested that Las Vegas copyright enforcement company Righthaven LLC would be receiving some payback from Roger Hunt, the chief United States District Court judge in ...

Judge rules Righthaven lacks standing to sue, threatens sanctions over misrepresentations

Tue, Jun 14, 2011

A federal judge in Las Vegas today issued a potentially devastating ruling against copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC, finding it doesn't have standing to sue over Las Vegas Review-Journal stories, that ...

Tea Party group sues Righthaven, Denver Post over copyright litigation campaign

Mon, Jun 13, 2011

The Denver Post has been sued for the first time by one of the Righthaven copyright lawsuit defendants. Las Vegas-based Righthaven has filed 274 copyright infringement lawsuits since March 2010.

Righthaven pressing for right to seize defendants' websites, computers

Sat, Jun 11, 2011

Newspaper copyright enforcer Righthaven LLC continues to argue it can seize the websites and computers of copyright infringers – a claim widely criticized as a bullying tactic aimed at coercing ...

Judges still weighing key Righthaven cases

Fri, Jun 3, 2011

Litigants in the Righthaven copyright infringement lawsuits may need to wait awhile before judges issue key rulings on whether Righthaven has standing to sue over Las Vegas Review-Journal and Denver ...

Righthaven defendant in new dispute over Las Vegas casino image

Sun, May 29, 2011

Righthaven lawsuit figure Brian D. Hill has been accused of copyright infringement again – this time involving an image of a Las Vegas casino. Hill, 21, gained national attention after ...

Lawyers sparring over Righthaven copyright lawsuit issues

Tue, May 24, 2011

With litigants in the Righthaven newspaper copyright infringement lawsuit campaign waiting for key rulings on Righthaven’s standing to sue, attorneys continue pounding away at each other on that and other ...

Allegedly fabricated press release at issue in Righthaven case

Fri, May 20, 2011

The most-regretted Righthaven/Denver Post copyright infringement lawsuit is heating up, with new charges that Righthaven tried to get an autistic blogger to sign off on issuance of a press release ...

Both sides OK with stay of Colorado Righthaven cases

Fri, May 20, 2011

For once, attorneys on both sides of the Righthaven copyright infringement lawsuits agree on something.

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.