A Good Friend Is In Trouble

Help BleepingComputer Defend Freedom of Speech
Lawrence Abrams

• February 1, 2016
• 10:11 AM
• Read 4,112 times
• 2

BleepingComputer needs your help to fight a frivolous lawsuit and defend its
RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH!

Enigma Software is suing us because of a negative review of SpyHunter.

Enigma Software doesn't like this post and instead of publicly defending their product, they are trying to bully us into censoring it.

We are asking for your help to defend the suit. The hallmark of a SLAPP suit, which is what we think this is, is to file a frivolous claim to try and silence your opponent. It is true, “freedom isn’t free”. We can’t afford to fight on our own. But you can help us crowd fund our defense.



A case like this could easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Enigma Software has a history of filing lawsuits to censor and bully people into removing reviews or opinions about their products.

If BleepingComputer does not get the help we need and we lose this battle, it will only embolden Enigma Software to try to silence other bloggers, IT technicians, or computer security enthusiasts.

We have provided free support. When people asked how they could pay us back we always said to pay it forward to a local charity.

But now we need your help!

Please help us by contributing towards our legal defense.

We also need you to help spread the word so that others contribute to our defense.

The Internet community needs to show a united front in support of Freedom of Speech without fear of being bullied! The more people who know about this will enable us to raise the funds we need to fight for our Right to Free Speech!


HOW YOU CAN HELP!
DONATE TO OUR LEGAL DEFENSE




All unused funds will be donated to the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

LET OTHERS KNOW



READ THE LAWSUIT
Download and Read the Enigma Software VS BleepingComputer lawsuit!


http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ann...lp-bleepingcomputer-defend-freedom-of-speech/

 

So Richard, would you surmise that emergency funds are needed? This entire thing is written like a scam though I know it's not, yet still, someone will 'benefit' way more than they should for proceedings ongoing. Supposedly ...

Here is an exerpt

"A case like this could easily cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Enigma Software has a history of filing lawsuits to censor and bully people into removing reviews or opinions about their products. "


Understand that the bolded print is there for getting anyone (a fool) to donate ... to whoever. The emphasis is there to make some stupid person donate way more than he or she ever should.


Full stop. I do NOT condone this message.

Period.

 

My concerns here are strictly the right to review a product and form an opinion. That should be above the courts if we want honesty out there.

 

Agreed 110% I can't believe the courts would even look at this. Really makes you wonder where this country is heading. I hope this is a win for Free Speech. I should be able to say whatever I want no matter where or how.

 

Enigma has a very week case!! Imo.

 

This article was posted the other day by
http://www.networkworld.com/article...-as-spyhunter-makers-sue-over-bad-review.html

He added:

“It is incredibly frustrating that a company comes along and slaps us with a lawsuit because a volunteer moderator expressed his honest opinion about a product to protect consumers. Our moderator, Quietman7, earns nothing from helping on the site and yet has posted over 40,000 posts in the forums. If you think about the amount of time he has devoted to helping others for free it is staggering!”

 

Again very true.

 

Honest opinions are sort of rare in the tech world because some are "paid" for, or at least has a degree of favoritism to it. So in that light, I commend the reviewing moderator for sticking his neck out there and doing an honest job of formulating a real opinion.

I can remember many times in [H]ardOcp when Kyle Bennett told the truth about a products misgivings regarding hardware. He tells it like it is usually and I have seen company reps not happy about it to say the least some even tried to log into the forums and voice the displeasure with the reviews.

One thing that could be done are more reviews on the same product by other computer savvy techsupport sites if indeed the product is not very good. International sites would be even better therefore they cannot be so easily pursued -- if at all. That would make a lawsuit null and void more than likely because too many targets to pursue, and they would not want additional negative publicity. Where they killed one bird they would then immediately then have to pursue all the other birds, which they would not do. They would simply want it to go away at that point.

In other words. If you start a fire, and someone is trying to put it out, you have to make the fire much bigger, and uncontrollable.

 

Nicely said Will. I personalty think this law suit will go no where. How many law suits has Enigma software won?
Sure I will donate to this, but I need a lot more information first. Where does the money go if the law suit is won by the complainant .
I will need more information.

 

Indeed one thing no one should do is donate until exacting information is known. Donating a little is fine but any monies that were not used would very likely be pocketed by someone. I support the IT and tech help community but thesedays even supposedly reliable charities are misappropriating donated funds right and left. If I were in Bleeping, or on that staff etc, I would start getting other site-allies doing more reviews of that product and get it out there, as well as international sites. I would do everything to squash any thought of an ongoing lawsuit before asking for tens of thousands of dollars.

 

My thoughts are Lawrence Abrams and his company would have ample funds for their own defence.
I don't know US Law however thinking if others gave bad reviews enigma would not sue each individually
instead bring a Class Action Lawsuit.

 

It stands at more than $10,000.00 right now donated by a mere 107 people. As noted, any and all of thus is non refundable. I wish them all good luck.

 

Is there not a saying Will ,that goes some thing like this "There's a sucker born every minute"
Sorry but this is how I feel about all this! Hey Will how much is that per donator! Unreal!


Not knowing the cost of Property Rights -Trademark and the cost of an attorney and documents on a federal defense. Your above comment should remain for yourself donetao Rich posted this thread for our help.
added by Kenny94 on 2-5-2016

 

Bleeping Computer LLC and Quietman7 are an asset to the security community/malware community! BleepingComputer staff never said Spyhunter is "malware" or is a competitor of Enigma. I'm appalled by Enigma Software Group!

But I understand Bleeping Computer concern as Enigma Software Group USA, LLC has a history of filing lawsuits for one. PacerMonitor shows this. You can follow this case at
https://www.pacermonitor.com/public..._Group_USA,_LLC_v_Bleeping_Computer_LLC_et_al

 

Actually I really did not post this suggesting we all help. I will myself because I think it is a noble cause but I posted it because it is newsworthy and everyone here has a right to their opinion.

 

No one here is doubting that this is a legit law suit. I agree with Dougie and Will. Rich only posted the news.
Why wouldn't there be a little skepticism and doubt from those unfamiliar with Bleeping Computer.
My post was a little strong. I apologize. However I think this is being blown out of proportion.
Bleeping Computer is well know in the help forum world and I'm sure they will receive many donations.
If Enigma is known for these kinds of law suits, it shouldn't be hard to research them and see what kind of success they have had in the past

 

BleepingComputer feels as though their right to free speech is being attacked. The malware community is showing support. Example the users that are in the drenches removing malware and teaching others about malware and the proper way of removal without a fee donetao. It's important that everyone who cares about security to stand up to fight these cats!

 

Hi @Kenny94 I understand free speech, but I need to read more about this. Who is asking for donations.
Where does the money go if the plaintiff wins this case and counter sues. There's just to much I don't understand about all this. These reviews of software programs go on all the time. This is the first time I've heard of a law suit like this.
I will do more research! Where does the 1st amendment fit in with all this?? Has this law suit been heard by a judge. Has a trial date been set. I have lots of questions! Surely there are users of this software that will come forward if the program is doing what BC said it was doing.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/first_amendment

 

Hi A little research. Are we going to contribute to all these that are being sued?? This doesn't seem to be any thing new.
I'm still researching.
http://www.benedelman.org/spyware/threats/