Boycott Grows Against Sony Over Bogus Blogger Lawsuit

As someone whose ass was saved by the online community after 9/11 when my landlord, represented by lawyers with big fat retainers, wrongfully sued me for breaking my lease on a Ground Zero apartment, I am intensely aware of the power of this community. Blogger Jason Kottke needs the same kind of help I got in his battle with Sony.

I am joining a growing boycott of Sony and all its products and hope that you will join us too. Journalist and blogger Dan Gillmor is among the many who have joined the boycott which grows daily.

Kottke's offense was to post an audio clip of long-time contestant Ken Jennings' losing answer on Jeopardy. The clip was leaked to Kottke by an audience member – Kottke didn't sneak onto the set and steal it. The Washington Post reported the exact same story as Kottke and was not sued. That's because they have big lawyers too and they wouldn't have immediately backed down like Kottke did.

Said Jason Calcanis: "Sony, you’re being a bully, and you’re picking a fight with your customers—you’re gonna lose. ...You should pay him, not persecute him! Wake up Sony, the “Digital Dream Kids” have arrived, and this is how your treat them?!"

Jeff Jarvis noted that Jennings' loss was "the worst kept secret in Hollywood this side of Michael Jackson's weirdness." Jarvis suggests a volunteer legal corps for bloggers rights.

Chilling Effects Clearinghouse, a joint project of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Harvard, Stanford, Berkeley, University of San Francisco, University of Maine, and George Washington School of Law clinics, notes that "some individuals and corporations are using intellectual property and other laws to silence other online users. Chilling Effects encourages respect for intellectual property law, while frowning on its misuse to "chill" legitimate activity."

Stop frowning guys, start acting. Jason needs your help.

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