Manila Bulletin files counter suit against Photoblogger

Any update? What happened in the end?

I would like to see how this case would turn out. Pretty interesting, and I agree to what Bryan has pointed out about fair use.

I’d say that a boycott is in order at the very least (if anyone here actually buys print media anymore, that is). Email campaign would be a nice touch too (although a bit spammy for my taste).

Why don’t we try to do what people worldwide do whenever the RIAA/MPAA tries to bully individuals and start something of a legal fund for Anton (and other individuals) just in case he’ll need help with litigation costs? Big corporations in this country have to be taught a lesson – that they can’t bully around the little people anymore.

Oh my! That is a nasty lawsuit!

Hinde matatakot yan BULLETIN handa hinde humihina ang sales nila.

Sa Visayas, mahina na sila! Kaya ang mga newsboys dito sa Visayas, pina-party nila complete with umbrellas, t-shirts and bags.

Pero ganoon pa rin, mahina pa rin ang sales.

Kasi yon ibang dealers inis-SNOB nila.

Silently these dealers retaliated by hiding the BULLETIN copies.

MB is filing a counter suit to intimidate Anton.
its their strongest defense for now. they assume that Anton will be bluffed by their complaint, and they hope that anton will either go for settlement or just drop the case.

its just part of their strategy. there is a high possibility that if Anton does not back out, they will ask for a settlement.

and if this happens, its going to be your call anton. as they have said, this is a landmark case.
anything that will happen here will be remembered.

What? Fair use? They’re kidding right? WTF!

How terribly creative of the MB legal team. Seriously, they should just settle and compensate the photo source. Local “big” companies are really such big fat bullies; no wonder a lot of SMEs and freelancers don’t want to bother even asserting their rights in the first place.
Go Anton!

i agree with mr patrick that this is a just a their (MB) to intimidate Anton to back down. instead of settling which would be admitting to the theft!
“That’s just Manila Bulletin’s way of intimidating Anton to drop the lawsuit. If Anton backs down because of it, that’s going to be a big blow to the entire bloggingcommunity kasi matatakot na ang lahat mag-upload ng digital content nila online.” -patrick e.

I wonder what is “fair use” when stealing images.

TEAM ANTON!!!

Does anyone have a copy of MB’s response? I’m interested in how they are handling this issue. Most likely in instances like this, it is the fault of one person rather than the company, so I wonder why this developed into a counter suit banking on “fair use”.

anton,you should go ahead and meet MB head on. i agree with all the previous comments. MB doesn’t have a case. they are simply used to bullying and being big.and they’ve probably done this in the past but nobody as much as whimpered. rock and roll!

Hello.

I know that Anton has said that he’s not going to make any comment at this point (Reply #13), and it’s only right.

But I do hope he pursues this further. “Fair Use” doesn’t apply in this case. You only have to use your common sense. Manila Bulletin does not have a case. They’re acting like a big bully corporation trying to step on a hapless civilian, hoping he would go away. But really, they’ve got NOTHING. They’re bluffing and I hope Anton calls them on it.

It’s the classic case of “Sya na ang gumawa ng mali, sya pa ang galit.”

This is ridiculous. Companies like Manila Bulletin should realize that it’s just a hell of a lot cheaper to pay people for their work instead of filing ridiculous countersuits.

more power anton!

turuan ng leksyon yang MB na yan!

The Philippines is largely emulating the U.S. copyright system. In the U.S. fair use is copyright infringement by definition but one that is legally allowed. So, not all forms of copyright infringement is illegal. Those that aren’t illegal are considered fair use.

Now, fair use is determined in a case-to-case basis. Just because it was deemed in one case that thumbnails are fair use doesn’t mean that all uses of thumbnails are also fair use. So while a ruling in the Sheker vs. MB case may set a precedent, it’s by no means a set-in-stone rule after.

i don’t think sir anton is after the money in the first place, its the principle of copyrights that is the issue. MB should be ashamed

Interesting. I’d like to see how this thing pans out.

This will be a landmark case.

Shame on Manila Bulletin! They could not pay for the mere photos and they are the leading newspaper in the country (i think).

Good for Inquirer they pay for photos they published, i got paid.

Visit http://www.manilablog.com – win 10$ or a domain…

“Manila Bulletin is suing back Anton with exemplary and moral damages” – they are the one should sued by this thing. Theres no “fair use” to what MB did to Anton. (astig si kuya Abe, makakakuha pa ng copy)

do they share the same lawyers with sulpicio? LOL!