(also posted on the WMF blog: http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/09/27/update-on-recent-legal-activities/)

Yesterday, Ryan Holliday, one of the community members sued by Internet Brands, filed a motion to strike and dismiss Internet Brands’ complaint (you can access the filing here http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/File:2012-09-26_Notice_of_Defendants%27_...) . Ryan’s motion argues that Internet Brands’ lawsuit is a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) — a meritless case brought not to win, but to punish him and frighten others from exercising their free speech rights to discuss the creation of a new travel project. Ryan is also seeking an award of attorneys’ fees, meaning that if he wins, Internet Brands will be required to pay the legal costs incurred to prepare the motion. The court will hear the motion on November 5, 2012.

We fully agree with Ryan’s position, and we hope his motion is successful. We think community volunteers like Ryan deserve our thanks, not meritless lawsuits. You can read about the original suit filed by the Wikimedia Foundation in a blog post ( http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/09/05/wikimedia-foundation-seeks-declaratory-...) from September 5, 2012.

on behalf of Kelly Kay, Deputy Counsel

-- Jay Walsh Head of Communications WikimediaFoundation.org blog.wikimedia.org +1 (415) 839 6885 x 6609, @jansonw