Copyright Trolls Order Wordpress To Disclose Critics' IP Addresses 119
TrueSatan writes "Notorious copyright troll Prenda Law has sent a subpoena to WordPress attempting to force the disclosure of all IP addresses related to two WordPress-hosted sites that specialize in monitoring and encouraging action against copyright trolling. The sites in question are fightcopyrighttrolls.com and dietrolldie.com. These sites state their aims as: 'To keep the public and fellow victims informed and to ensure that through activism, trolls make as little money as possible.' These are goals which almost anyone (bar a copyright troll, or lawyer acting for one) might well applaud. Prenda Law's demand is not for a subset of addresses that might have posted in a manner that could be construed as legally defamatory but for all IP addresses that have accessed these sites, irrespective of the use made of them. Prenda Law has filed three defamation lawsuits already against the individuals who run Fightcopyrighttrolls, and one has been dismissed (PDF). Dietrolldie released the following warning: 'As there is a possibility that a release could occur, the public IP address (date/time stamp) could fall into the hands of Prenda. I would expect that they would then try to cross-reference the IP address with their list of alleged BitTorrent infringement IP addresses ... If you have ever gone to this site or Fightcopyrighttrolls.com since 1 January 2011, you may want to contact WordPress. Tell them you want them to refuse this overly broad request and at least wait until the issue of the case being moved to the Federal court is answered before releasing any information.'"
Fuck Prenda Law (Score:3, Insightful)
They're mutant vampire aliens sent from Xenu to do the Devil's bidding.
Three words (Score:4, Insightful)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_to_quash
If you refuse the subpoena, the judge may decide that Wordpress is committing contempt of court. A better alternative would be to have their own lawyer request a motion to quash the subpoena.
Of course, the best thing Wordpress can do is to listen to corporate counsel and pay attention, but I'm no lawyer, so don't listen to me. :)
Re:How about... (Score:3, Insightful)
How about sending a Motion To Quash the subpoena to the court. Imagine if every reader of these blogs did that? The court would receive thousands, maybe tens of thousands of motions - that's how you send a message.
Re:Fact finding by dragnet. (Score:5, Insightful)
They want to intimidate.
Re:How about... (Score:2, Insightful)
How about someobody go postal on their asses, go into their building with a few AR-15s, shoot everybody and burn the fucking building to the ground?
Nah, that's too good for them.
Re:Fuck Prenda Law (Score:3, Insightful)
I would like to think that Prenda Law is doing us all a favor. By putting the absurdity of copyright, patent, libel, and slander laws on full display, we could hopefully see a more widespread movement to abolish this nonsense.
Best use of slashdot effect. (Score:4, Insightful)