Fighting for Techdirt and All Independent Media
Anyone who's followed Techdirt's reporting and analysis over the years knows how vital this news outlet has been when it comes to clearing the fog that often clouds policy debates about Net Neutrality, broadband access, spectrum allocation, copyright reform and media ownership.
Anyone who's followed Techdirt's reporting and analysis over the years knows how vital this news outlet has been when it comes to clearing the fog that often clouds policy debates about Net Neutrality, broadband access, spectrum allocation, copyright reform and media ownership.
Founder Mike Masnick's incisive reporting and piercing commentary during the fight against the SOPA and PIPA legislation -- which would have allowed the film and recording industries to black out huge tracts of internet content without due process -- undercut Hollywood's bogus claims in support of these bad bills.
"We can't allow those with means to use the legal process to silence independent reporting."
In his frequent coverage of Net Neutrality and other tech policy issues, Karl Bode skewers the sophistry of lobbyists, PR consultants and think tankers on the payroll of the big phone and cable companies.
It's not enough for these and other Techdirt writers to be on the right side of an issue. They bring a healthy skepticism to all arguments, even calling out Free Press on occasion.
Techdirt is a trusted source that keeps us all honest. Yet for doing so Techdirt has earned itself a few enemies.
The publication is now in the battle of its life against Shiva Ayyadurai (pictured), a sometime technologist who claims he invented email. Techdirt's alleged infraction in this $15 million lawsuit is publishing a series of stories that cite credible sources disputing Ayyadurai's claims.
Techdirt's defense against this lawsuit is as strong as Ayyadurai's claim that he invented email is weak. In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs bringing defamation lawsuits against publishers must prove that the statements in question are false, and that the speaker actually knew they were false or seriously doubted them when they were published. But the costly process of fending off Ayyadurai's lawyers could shutter Techdirt for good.
"This is not a fight about who invented email," writes Masnick, who started Techdirt in the mid-'90s as an irreverent take on business developments in technology. "This is a fight about whether or not our legal system will silence independent publications for publishing opinions that public figures do not like."
Destroying Techdirt is likely Ayyadurai's intention, even if he knows he will lose the case. To put the outlet out of business he's hired Charles Harder, the lawyer who represented Hulk Hogan in his successful suit against Gawker. Harder also wrote threatening emails to New York magazine in an attempt to silence its groundbreaking reporting on disgraced former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. Future First Lady Melania Trump has also secured Harder's services, in an apparent effort to silence any unflattering reporting about her that might appear.
Few independent publications have the means to defend themselves against frivolous defamation lawsuits. Often they're forced into unfair settlements simply to avoid the costs of going to court against deep-pocketed, thin-skinned plaintiffs.
We can't allow those with means to use the legal process to silence independent reporting. The First Amendment is supposed to protect dissenting views in a democracy. That some prominent individuals are violating this spirit is great cause for concern, which is why Free Press is urging everyone who cares about independent media to support Techdirt's fight and tell others to do the same.
Techdirt has been fair and honest over the years. It's time to stand up for it -- and for a free and independent press.
FINAL DAY! This is urgent.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Anyone who's followed Techdirt's reporting and analysis over the years knows how vital this news outlet has been when it comes to clearing the fog that often clouds policy debates about Net Neutrality, broadband access, spectrum allocation, copyright reform and media ownership.
Founder Mike Masnick's incisive reporting and piercing commentary during the fight against the SOPA and PIPA legislation -- which would have allowed the film and recording industries to black out huge tracts of internet content without due process -- undercut Hollywood's bogus claims in support of these bad bills.
"We can't allow those with means to use the legal process to silence independent reporting."
In his frequent coverage of Net Neutrality and other tech policy issues, Karl Bode skewers the sophistry of lobbyists, PR consultants and think tankers on the payroll of the big phone and cable companies.
It's not enough for these and other Techdirt writers to be on the right side of an issue. They bring a healthy skepticism to all arguments, even calling out Free Press on occasion.
Techdirt is a trusted source that keeps us all honest. Yet for doing so Techdirt has earned itself a few enemies.
The publication is now in the battle of its life against Shiva Ayyadurai (pictured), a sometime technologist who claims he invented email. Techdirt's alleged infraction in this $15 million lawsuit is publishing a series of stories that cite credible sources disputing Ayyadurai's claims.
Techdirt's defense against this lawsuit is as strong as Ayyadurai's claim that he invented email is weak. In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs bringing defamation lawsuits against publishers must prove that the statements in question are false, and that the speaker actually knew they were false or seriously doubted them when they were published. But the costly process of fending off Ayyadurai's lawyers could shutter Techdirt for good.
"This is not a fight about who invented email," writes Masnick, who started Techdirt in the mid-'90s as an irreverent take on business developments in technology. "This is a fight about whether or not our legal system will silence independent publications for publishing opinions that public figures do not like."
Destroying Techdirt is likely Ayyadurai's intention, even if he knows he will lose the case. To put the outlet out of business he's hired Charles Harder, the lawyer who represented Hulk Hogan in his successful suit against Gawker. Harder also wrote threatening emails to New York magazine in an attempt to silence its groundbreaking reporting on disgraced former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. Future First Lady Melania Trump has also secured Harder's services, in an apparent effort to silence any unflattering reporting about her that might appear.
Few independent publications have the means to defend themselves against frivolous defamation lawsuits. Often they're forced into unfair settlements simply to avoid the costs of going to court against deep-pocketed, thin-skinned plaintiffs.
We can't allow those with means to use the legal process to silence independent reporting. The First Amendment is supposed to protect dissenting views in a democracy. That some prominent individuals are violating this spirit is great cause for concern, which is why Free Press is urging everyone who cares about independent media to support Techdirt's fight and tell others to do the same.
Techdirt has been fair and honest over the years. It's time to stand up for it -- and for a free and independent press.
Anyone who's followed Techdirt's reporting and analysis over the years knows how vital this news outlet has been when it comes to clearing the fog that often clouds policy debates about Net Neutrality, broadband access, spectrum allocation, copyright reform and media ownership.
Founder Mike Masnick's incisive reporting and piercing commentary during the fight against the SOPA and PIPA legislation -- which would have allowed the film and recording industries to black out huge tracts of internet content without due process -- undercut Hollywood's bogus claims in support of these bad bills.
"We can't allow those with means to use the legal process to silence independent reporting."
In his frequent coverage of Net Neutrality and other tech policy issues, Karl Bode skewers the sophistry of lobbyists, PR consultants and think tankers on the payroll of the big phone and cable companies.
It's not enough for these and other Techdirt writers to be on the right side of an issue. They bring a healthy skepticism to all arguments, even calling out Free Press on occasion.
Techdirt is a trusted source that keeps us all honest. Yet for doing so Techdirt has earned itself a few enemies.
The publication is now in the battle of its life against Shiva Ayyadurai (pictured), a sometime technologist who claims he invented email. Techdirt's alleged infraction in this $15 million lawsuit is publishing a series of stories that cite credible sources disputing Ayyadurai's claims.
Techdirt's defense against this lawsuit is as strong as Ayyadurai's claim that he invented email is weak. In 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs bringing defamation lawsuits against publishers must prove that the statements in question are false, and that the speaker actually knew they were false or seriously doubted them when they were published. But the costly process of fending off Ayyadurai's lawyers could shutter Techdirt for good.
"This is not a fight about who invented email," writes Masnick, who started Techdirt in the mid-'90s as an irreverent take on business developments in technology. "This is a fight about whether or not our legal system will silence independent publications for publishing opinions that public figures do not like."
Destroying Techdirt is likely Ayyadurai's intention, even if he knows he will lose the case. To put the outlet out of business he's hired Charles Harder, the lawyer who represented Hulk Hogan in his successful suit against Gawker. Harder also wrote threatening emails to New York magazine in an attempt to silence its groundbreaking reporting on disgraced former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. Future First Lady Melania Trump has also secured Harder's services, in an apparent effort to silence any unflattering reporting about her that might appear.
Few independent publications have the means to defend themselves against frivolous defamation lawsuits. Often they're forced into unfair settlements simply to avoid the costs of going to court against deep-pocketed, thin-skinned plaintiffs.
We can't allow those with means to use the legal process to silence independent reporting. The First Amendment is supposed to protect dissenting views in a democracy. That some prominent individuals are violating this spirit is great cause for concern, which is why Free Press is urging everyone who cares about independent media to support Techdirt's fight and tell others to do the same.
Techdirt has been fair and honest over the years. It's time to stand up for it -- and for a free and independent press.