It has been a while since we updated this topic, mostly because there has been no updated news to offer since July 30, 2021. To recap, we were threatened with a lawsuit for using a photo attached to a small news item concerning the graduation of offspring of those NY Firefighters that gave their lives at the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001, when it collapsed.
At the time of the notice, three of our readers had actually read the post. Only three. The known Internet copyright troll, Higbee and Associates, threatened a lawsuit just like they had done against hundreds (if not thousands) of small websites like ours.
We took the picture down but claimed “Fair Use” as it really was a very short piece. Made no difference, Higbee replied. They had sued for a previous “infringement” but settled for a FAR lower amount than they demanded, and we thought that was the end of it with our settlement agreement. Thus, we replied that this time we were not going to pay their demand. Like the America of its early years after the Revolutionary War (US Marine Hymn: “…to the shores of Tripoli…”), “thousands for defense, not a cent for tribute.”
We asked, and you all responded by funding a legal defense fund that went into five digits.
With a back and forth between Grokster Norm (a lawyer) and their representative, they stopped their efforts. We haven’t heard back since that date above. So that begs the question – what to do with all of those donations you gave for a single purpose, that defense? It is still there – after all, we asked for a specific purpose, and unlike another organization that did a similar ask (and then spent that money on a different “purpose,” and then another one, and then…), all that money is in the bank. Not a single dime has left.
So if that purpose has gone away (and in talking with Norm, it seemingly has), now what?
- Would you want it back?
- Should we use it for another purpose – like enhancing GraniteGrok (example: we desperately need a better Search for our over 47,000 posts (“I know it’s in here…somewhere”)?
Or for a different (different) purpose altogether? Like a PAC (Political Action Committee) that could help bring “teeth” to our writing “bite.” Or to use another US Marine unofficial motto: “No better friend, no worse enemy.” To assist those candidates that need help and that fit our profile built up over the last 17 years – and against those that don’t (e.g., RINOs and those who are openly against Liberty and Freedom).
An entity that could ALSO assist in our advocacy/investigative efforts in getting Government entities to simply Follow the Law – especially when they refuse to honor the Law with our Right To Know demands (I can think of one Commissioner who is doing EXACTLY that right now). Sometimes, “legal teeth” are necessary.
So, what say you all? What should be done? One of the above – or something else?
