Comments on: Black Friday Ads site offers data of questionable origin — but in an innovative way

By: Nicole Neuman Hughes

Nicole Neuman Hughes — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 17:15:00 +0000

So, tell me what’s so wrong about “Black Friday” websites?

[OK, so someone at a newspaper signed some non-disclosure paperwork; but who the hell really cares?]

Who is being injured by these actions?

The so-called “leak” occurs somewhere between the retailer and one or more newspaper printing facilities. So why does the retailer’s legal team threaten the website owner, yet NOT go after the “leaker”?

The web-publishers of this give-away material are displaying absolutely nothing covered by copyright law.

BOTTOM LINE: The “offended” retailer draws many more shoppers into their store to buy a few “loss leader” items, usually along with many more NON-discounted products. [Note: These bargain items are usually limited to 20-30 per store, along with a no-raincheck policy, so the retailer really loses nothing!]

Isn’t that the whole idea behind retailers’ having Black Friday prices in the first place? For one short moment, the average consumer gets a SMALL break from the usual 100-200% markup policy!

Of course in this sick world, populated with too many under-employed pettifoggers, anyone can sue anyone… Duh!

By: Charles Apple

Charles Apple — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 16:13:08 +0000

Yeah, I would think this violates copyright, at the very least.
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First, though, you gotta catch ‘em. And the site appears to be anonymous. It’d take resources to track these guys down.
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Still, they sure have their reader-utility tools well-built. You gotta admire that.

By: Mike BRaun

Mike BRaun — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 14:39:36 +0000

Charles. Isn’t the reprinting of these types of inserts BEFORE publication in some way illegal? I’d think the advertisers themselves would be pissed. You’d think they’d be tracking this guy down just to shut him down.