[WikiEN-l] Wikipedia Art incident

[Ray Saintonge]

Fred Bauder wrote:
>> This is disingenuous.  A letter sent by a law firm "to outline our legal
>> concerns" which uses legal language and tells a site that they will
>> settle
>> matters amicably if they meet a demand is a legal threat.  It may not
>> actually
>> include the words "or we will sue you", but trying to spin it as not
>> being a legal threat is absurd.
>>     
> Any communication, however artfully phrased to be non-threatening, from
> an attorney or a corporation can be taken that way. However, the option
> of not communicating is not viable.
I think that any member of the general public whose experience with 
courtrooms is limited to TV dramas is thoroughly intimidated by a mere 
suggestion that they could end up in court for any issue whatsoever.  
For them fighting a traffic ticket where winning is a near certainty is 
a greater penalty than paying a questionable fine.  It also explains why 
copyright paranoia is in such good health.

Ec