The Copyright Troll Is Beginning To Lose Its Grip On Its Bridge

"Copyright Troll" Righthaven's contract with MediaNews Group will expire soon:

With over 50 newspapers, including The Denver Post, MediaNews Group is one of Righthaven's largest clients. The two companies joined forces a year ago, but that contract is soon to expire. In a feature published Thursday by Wired Magazine, MediaNews Group's new CEO says the deal is through.

"The issues about copyright are real," CEO John Paton told Wired. "But the idea that you would hire someone on an — essentially — success fee to run around and sue people at will who may or may not have infringed as a way of protecting yourself … does not reflect how news is created and disseminated in the modern world."

He even called it a "dumb idea from the start."

Righthaven still has its first client, Stephens Media, which operates over 60 community papers and 11 daily papers in nine states.