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Pastimes : Business Wire Falls for April Fools Prank, Sues FBNers -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Janice Shell who wrote (2965)	6/17/1999 8:28:00 PM
From: Tom C	Respond to of 3795

BRAVO! Tom

To: Janice Shell who wrote (2965)	6/17/1999 11:55:00 PM
From: wonk	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 3795

Very well done. Imagine the following exchange: Judge: You have only provided evidence of two other fraudulent press releases. Webnode Counsel: We have others your Honor. Judge: Very good, put them here on my desk. Webnode Counsel: But your Honor... Judge: Put them here on my desk! Webnode Counsel: But... Judge: Put them here. Webnode Counsel: Very well. Counsel then waves in the sack toters who bury the Judge under a pile of paper. Oops, that was Miracle on 34th Street.

To: Janice Shell who wrote (2965)	6/17/1999 11:57:00 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3795

Thanks. Sounds like somebody had fun drafting this. Keep us posted! I was sorry not to see the counter claim of breach of contract argued, but maybe that will come later. First thing is to get the suit tossed out and get some fees.

To: Janice Shell who wrote (2965)	6/20/1999 4:07:00 AM
From: marcos	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3795

Clear, logical, and well-written - looks like you guys have a good lawyer. It's a little lengthy but then it had to answer so many stupid facets of [reference deleted]'s bs complaint. Ok, so what's the etiquette on spamming the defense fund around? - "Webnode Legal Defense Fund c/o Attorney Herbert Mendelsohn 110 Washington Avenue North Haven, CT 06473" .. also, what's up with the WebNode3 T-shirts? ... reason i ask is that i plan to go flog a few over on the Canuck threads when they're available ... i could mention the Defense Fund a little now if that's ok .... and btw my cheque to it will be in the mail Monday .... cheers

To: Janice Shell who wrote (2965)	6/20/1999 11:03:00 AM
From: X Y Zebra	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3795

VIA CONCLUSION If press-release providers like Business Wire are allowed to maintain lawsuits of the type brought here, then people like the defendants will be greatly hampered in trying to educate the public about Internet fraud by showing consumers how easily they may be taken in by a Web site and a press release. The defendants engaged in legitimate free-speech activities. Business Wire should not be allowed to retaliate against them via this lawsuit because it does not like the publicity surrounding the defendants' project or because the defendants have poked fun at it. The complaint should be stricken in its entirety and the defendants awarded their attorneys fees. I would also ask your attorney if it would be possible to bring some kind of counter-suit against BW based on the fact that it is clear their intentions are to "teach you a lesson", [because of their own stupidity]. Beyond dismissing this lunacy as a mere "frivolous lawsuit". In other words, they are using the court system for their own purposes, in their attempt to "teach you a lesson", (i.e. even if it is clear that your intent was never to commit anything illegal nor caused any damage, forcing you to defend yourself, which represents a costly and time consuming effort), NOT to find justice as [I assume] it is the reason the court system exists, and it is intended to serve the public in such pursuit. The court system should not be the personal servants of an idiotic humorless group of talking heads, who not only is it clear they are sore losers, but in addition they are clogging the court system with this frivolous action. I would even make the argument that if they consider your obvious prank as damaging to their reputation, then it is clear to me that they should be made liable for all press releases that are either misleading, or indeed fraudulent, as is the case with hundreds of bulletin board companies. Why ? Because the distribution of the press release itself is an important tool in the success of a scam by a less than truthful "company", given the power they have in the eyes of the public. Said fraudulent or misleading press releases achieve success in convincing the public that a company may be genuine, while the truth could be otherwise. The press release "makes the difference". [never mind that the so-called-public are a collection of morons that want to believe anything they want, in order to make their most cherished dream, seem easily achievable in their mind, i.e. "a wet dream"]. Therefore, if you are to be responsible in any way, shape or form, then, it should be BW's responsibility to verify that what they distribute in form of a press release, contains factual information, and NOT information that misleads or leads to the commission of fraud. "The public good is in their hands" Far fetched ? under common sense, probably, but then again, their legal action against you three, does not even enter the realm of common sense. And to make sure.... the public good be damned... (if this means the protection of morons against their self inflicted wounds caused by generic idiocy.) I wish you Janice, Jeff and, Bill the best and I hope and expect you will prevail. If you don't we all lose, I am afraid the morons are reproducing rapidly and it would be evidence that have taken control of the court system, [or probably the entire world].