Todd Goldman Letter to FLEEN

Submitted by Erg on April 20, 2007 - 22:19

Apparently Todd Goldman just doesn't understand how PR works.

Fleen is reporting that they have received a letter threatening legal action if FLEEN doesn't take down "certain comments and disparaging remarks that are posted and housed on your website (www.fleen.com)..." and "articles posted on your website which contain defaming, derogatory and malicious statements about Mr. Goldman".

Fleen is also saying Mr. Goldman has sent similiar letters to other sites that reported on the recent copyright violation debacle. (Comixpedia has not received any letter at this time).

I am going to guess this news post here is the one Mr. Goldman is worried about over at Fleen. I don't know what Fleen is going to do about this, and I support them whatever they do, but maybe the community should make some noise about this too. The hipster/geek crowd Mr. Goldman depends on to buy his gold plated bread has alot of overlap with our crowd.

Viva Fleen! Viva Gary Tyrell! Down with overly dramatic art thieves!

UPDATE: The letter is purported to be penned by Andrew "Drew" P. Felix, an Associate of the Florida law firm Shutts & Bowen LLP. Mr. Felix does exist, apparently if one can believe what one reads on the intertubes these days.

I agree

by anthroporail - 04/24/2007 - 00:29

Perhaps, just supposing, this could be a panic move by Goldman in relation to an article posted (I don't have the link darnit) which displays a very long list of alleged swipes. I'll look for it, I found it to be quite damning. And you know what can happen when everyone thinks you're loaded, especially if any of those profits were rooted in legitimate claims.

One of the "swipes" showed a dead ringer for a Schoolhouse Rock toon, and that property now belongs to Disney. Potential War of the Gargantuas.

Removal of messages

by Compugasm - 04/21/2007 - 14:33

The discussion should remain as is. If Todd Goldman doesn't want people talking bad about him, then he should take this experience as a lesson in ethics and conduct himself accordingly.

The comments are truthful, and public conversation based on facts. Many of those comments are made by 3rd parties and site visitors. Fleen shouldn't change a thing, because it's not their job to be Todd Goldmans' police force. Does he expect Fleen to moderate every word that is said about him? Is he trying to silence the internet?

With all the talk of comic/videos destroying our society, and censorship these days, it's most important that Fleen DO NOT comply with Goldmans requests.

On understanding PR: I don't

by Joey Manley - 04/21/2007 - 13:02

On understanding PR: I don't think the "public" that Goldman wants to have "relations" with is us -- people who hang out on webcomics messageboards. His "public" probably doesn't even know about the recent controversy. They are likely to Google his name at some point, though. Maybe before making a $50K painting purchase. I think Goldman understands PR all too well.

Fleen's added a note saying

by Tim Tylor - 04/21/2007 - 12:33

Fleen's added a note saying the letter's genuine. It only gives Fleen one day to act in and doesn't actually specify what the offending bits are, so I wonder if they're just trying to panic the targets into taking down everything Todd-related. If so, it's not working with Fleen who have their own lawyers on it now.