Earthcomber Sues TechCrunch

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/08/earthcomber-sues-techcrunch-out-of-spite-pisses-me-off-personally/

by qhoxie • 18 years ago

40 21 18 years ago

FTA:

We will not be bullied, and people who file frivolous lawsuits need to be put down. I would rather run TechCrunch into the ground and go out of business than let this guy win.

I'm not usually much of a Michael Arrington fan but much respect for this stand. This "we don't negotiate with terrorists" approach, if applied more broadly by more companies would go a long way toward fixing both the patent system and the legal system. It takes mad courage. Go Mike.

alaskamiller2• 18 years ago

Posturing at the sight of frivolity is now considered greatness? A former lawyer fighting a lawsuit is now courageous?

olefoo2• 18 years ago

You know how internet time is faster than normal time?

Same principle ;-)

noonespecial2• 18 years ago

We're talking about a system where fighting a suit has a certain fixed cost, along with an added element of risk. (Risk because the system is broken enough now that the outcomes are often near random).

The "best" thing to do is settle for less than the fixed cost + your willingness to gamble. This creates a system of minor extortionists knowing that by simply filing suits and collecting settlements they can sap wealth from businesses that create it almost without effort.

Whats best for the one business (to settle) is not best for all businesses because it perpetuates the broken status quo.

What it takes to stop this cycle is for individuals to stand up and say "No. That's a step to far", even if it means loosing more than taking the "rational" option of settling.

To put it slightly more succinctly, to say as nations do "We will not negotiate with terrorists". There's a reason we take such a hard stance on that. Once you give in once, you'll be giving in forever. It takes courage. Even for a former lawyer.

amygrantfan3• 18 years ago

Arrington the kingmaker is now posturing himself as Arrington champion of the little guy? You can't be both.

He's subject to the same rule of law as everyone else. He's not above it, nor should he be.

What's fantastic is the lemming responses from this group. Are you guys afraid of him? Did you read the LA Times story that he went back and CHANGED his original hack piece to soften it up?

He also describes Techcrunch as a filter? But Techcrunch the filter isn't being sued. Techcrunch the Co-branded product is being sued.

And who brought that to the public's attention? Arrington? Nope. His former employee reporter did.

Still think this guy is champion of the little fella?

brandnewlow2• 18 years ago

Love him or hate him...Arrington's the man. He's built an empire off of his personal connections, blood, sweat and tears and is raking in the cash. Mad props. The guy's writing drives me nuts and I think he seems like a jerk, but c'mon, what he's done is really impressive.

vaksel• 18 years ago

wow these guys are morons.

_b8r0• 18 years ago

They're both morons in a sea of moronity, although I find it hard to believe that someone would sue techcrunch for press exposure. That is exceptionally dumb.

cdr• 18 years ago

Arrington is probably paying them to sue TC.

olefoo2• 18 years ago

Never sue a man who buys ink by the barrel.

s/ink by the barrel/has a subscription count in the sextuple digits/

jonursenbach• 18 years ago

Props for regex.

ld50• 18 years ago

downmodded for incorrect implementation.

Never sue a man who buys ink by the barrel. s/buys ink by the barrel/has a subscription count in the sextuple digits/

fallentimes• 18 years ago

In general, even though I disagree with much of what he says and does, I love how Arrington treats lawyers and retarded legal battles.

jfornear• 18 years ago

He knows drama like this makes for a good story. I love MA drama.

humanlever• 18 years ago

Does it really matter where you incorporate any more?

From what I understand (which may be wrong), most companies that incorporate as Delaware corporations, do so in part because DE has a solid business law system in place.

At the top of the complaint it shows that both defendants are incorporated in Delaware, yet whoever filed the complaint tried (and succeeded) in making a case for whatever goes down to take place in IL. Is that even reasonable?

While I'm sure it won't hurt TC or Loopt to take a road trip, if another startup wound up in a similar bind, I can definitely see the cost of fighting an out-of-state battle putting them over a barrel.

iigs• 18 years ago

Arrington, congratulations on upgrading Earthcomber from "Who?" to "Oh yeah, those guys that sued TechCrunch... What ever came of that?"

They may not get their money's worth from this publicity stunt but it by far wasn't the worst way to spend their cash -- more money has definitely been spent on less exposure in the past.

sama• 18 years ago

earthcomber ftw!

amygrantfan3• 18 years ago

Doesn't Arrington have a financial interest in Loopt? I thought he is an investor?

amygrantfan3• 18 years ago

Taking Arrington's version of events as truth is a dangerous undertaking. He's biased and has a clear conflict of interest.

I also love the fact that everyone is afraid of him bc he's a lawyer. Star Jones is also a lawyer, people. Get my drift. Beside's Arrington's an M/A lawyer, which is lawyer with a "small l" in the litigation community. You know, worker bee.

And, he's kinda fat.

Earthcomber Sues TechCrunch

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