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iSONEWS Censored By Sega

Posted by michael on from the contributory-censorship dept.

mrmag00 writes: "When I first read this article, I figured that Sega was doing the right thing. However, after reading it again I found that it fits perfectly into Your Rights Online. If I am not wrong, in the U.S. we have freedom of speech, yet Sega is threatening to sue a news site for posting news on releases of illegal Dreamcast games. iSONEWS announced that it has closed its Dreamcast section because of several threatening letters from Sega's attorney. Is this limiting freedom of speech, or is it suggesting illegal activity? There are no actual illegal files on the Web site, just information on when releases of these things start showing up. They are definitely not seeing all of these releases; how does iSONEWS even know if these are being released?" The correspondence makes for good reading.

4 comments

  1. ????? by Tommi+Morre · · Score: 2
    I can't see any posts -- this better not be the first post!

    (Standard I-am-NOT-a-lawyer disclaimer)

    Having read the emails back'n'forth between Sega and ISONews, it looks like Sega's lawyer has been enboldened by recent court decisions to the point where he thinks he can ignore proper legal procedure. When asked to provide specific example of violations (which he's required to provide), he aludes, McCarthy-like, to all the info he claims to have, but he doesn't provide specifics.

    The newssite is taking the correct action -- getting their own lawyer. It's just a shame they have to spend the money to defend themselves from this sort of baseless intimidation tactic.

    --

    Quotes from A Man for All Seasons

    1. Re:????? by Cyclopatra · · Score: 2
      The newssite is taking the correct action -- getting their own lawyer. It's just a shame they have to spend the money to defend themselves from this sort of baseless intimidation tactic.

      I agree totally. I only wish ISONews had stood their ground and refused to remove the Dreamcast info. All too often, companies will send out nasty, threatening letters in the hopes that their recipients will say "oh, dear! a letter from a lawyer! I must be doing something wrong. I'd better stop right now" when in reality there are no grounds for any sort of lawsuit. Most of the time, it won't even be taken as far as filing a suit - they know they can't possibly win. The weasely language in the letters says to me that they have no proof that will stand up to the light of day. "We have plenty of evidence"...it is to laugh.

      --
      "We can't all, and some of us don't." -- Eeyore
  2. This is absurd! by Smitty825 · · Score: 2

    I wish that this was posted on the Main page, because I feel that more people really need to know about this type of abuse!

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    Doh!
  3. DC Section Back Up!! by chris232 · · Score: 1

    I would encourage you all to follow up on this and check the site out again! look for a formal press release sometime soon as well. The dc section is back and isonews will be fighting sega on this case if they choose to file suit. http://www.isonews.com