Daniel Orkent, public editor for the Times, has issued a public relentment. #

The New York Times: Daniel Okrent (Forum/Message Board) – The Columnists Correction Page Parody and The Times #

Readers (and others) upset with The Times for sending a cease-and-desist notice to the creator of a parody “corrections page” aimed at the paper’s Op-Ed columnists can relax. #

The following letter—to Robert Cox of http://www.thenationaldebate.com/, who created the page, and to his internet service provider—was sent out by Times lawyers today: #

“Thank you for responding to our complaint. By adding the bold-faced disclaimer at the top of the faux Columnist Corrections Page, you are no longer confusing readers and as a result of this change, we agree that the page is now a parody which is protected under the First Amendment. We are copying Verio on this e-mail in order to inform them that we no longer have any objections to your site. #

I must admit, I feel a little deflated. I hadn’t realized that there was a version of the parody page that had been posted without the bold-faced disclaimer. My first exposure to the page had been on the German mirror site, where the bold disclaimer had been added, along with the word “Not” in front of the Times logo. I can see better now why the Times might have been upset, yet I still maintain that the page could have been nothing but parody even without that disclaimer. As the Falwell v. Hustler case showed, you don’t have to stamp the word “Parody” in big bold type at the top of the page. Mr. Cox’s original text at the bottom of the page would probably have held up in court. #

However, the Times has withdrawn its legal action, so we here at Stumax.com withdraw our protest. #

The faux Corrections page will remain available, however. As I wrote to the Times just now on hearing of this latest statement, I stand by my call for the paper to urgently consider changes to its editorial policy with regard to columnists, as I outlined in my previous post on the topic. It is vital that we be able to trust the word of the nation’s paper of record. #

I am still upset that the Times would resort to threatening legal actions by using provisions of the DMCA. However, I don’t know the whole story, and it seems like everyone’s happy… for now. #

Oh, poop. And I was all up for a fight. Guess I’ll just have to beat my cat. #

#

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Monday, March 15th, 2004 @ 2:39 pm Free Expression Matters
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