# I pit 2 douchebag lawyers: Paul R. Hansmeier and John L. Steele **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 19, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173 "2016-12-19T20:01:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/41 "2016-12-21T21:05:42Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > While, as a lawyer, I find Prenda’s scheme unconscionable, as a copyright-respecting member of the public I can’t help thinking that maybe people who illegally download copyrighted material get what comes to them. Your first statement precludes the second. If the scheme is unethical, then those harmed by it did not get what was coming to them. Please don’t embrace that cognitive dissonance that lawyers are infamous for. There is only one you. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/42 "2016-12-21T21:33:09Z")
No way, man. We Are Legion. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/43 "2016-12-21T23:43:45Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > If I trip over a rake in your yard, I sue you. But if I strew rakes all over your yard…nuh uh. And my [security footage](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WZLJpMOxS4) of your attempt is why your lawsuit against me failed. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2016, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/44 "2016-12-21T23:52:04Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Your first statement precludes the second. If the scheme is unethical, then those harmed by it did not get what was coming to them. > > Please don’t embrace that cognitive dissonance that lawyers are infamous for. There is only one you. Dude. You CAN have an unethical scheme where the people had what was coming to them actually got it… But wait…you are BigT…please don’t explode… ---
**Author:** ![Debillw3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Debillw3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debillw3)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/45 "2016-12-22T07:35:36Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Your first statement precludes the second. If the scheme is unethical, then those harmed by it did not get what was coming to them. I have to disagree for the reasons I posted above. They knowingly did something wrong. Someone else doing something worse doesn’t necessarily negate that. If anyone else uploaded it, the owners would have been well within their rights to do what they did–settlement negotiations are incredibly common in copyright suits. Them being the ones who uploaded it complicates certain matters, but it doesn’t change the fact that most of the people downloading it did so with the intent of breaking the law, and, thus, don’t necessarily not deserve the common punishment for their actions (an expensive lawsuit settlement). ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/46 "2016-12-22T08:51:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Wouldn’t it invalidate any copyright infringement claim if the copyright holder uploads the video to a public venue? That seems like the copyright holder is authorizing its release to the public. > > For example, if I post on this board, I can’t then turn around and claim that the SDMB is infringing on the copyright of my post. Oh? Let’s test this. **This post is copyright © 2016 by Septimus G. Stevens VII. All Rights Reserved.** You may not reproduce, modify or in any way exploit any of the Content of this post. In particular, but without limiting the general application of the restrictions contained in the previous sentence, you may not redistribute, retransmit, republish any of the Content (including by using it as part of any library, archive or similar service) except in very brief excerpts for satiric purpose; you may not remove the copyright notice from any copies of Content; you may not store all or any of the Content on any electronic or magnetic storage medium. This notice supersedes all other applicable contracts, laws and treaties. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of national and international law. I dare you to quote this post! If you do, please enclose full name, address and credit card number for the attention of my lawyers. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/47 "2016-12-22T14:03:59Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Oh? Let’s test this. > > **This post is copyright © 2016 by Septimus G. Stevens VII. > All Rights Reserved.** > > You may not reproduce, modify or in any way exploit any of the Content of this post. In particular, but without limiting the general application of the restrictions contained in the previous sentence, you may not redistribute, retransmit, republish any of the Content (including by using it as part of any library, archive or similar service) except in very brief excerpts for satiric purpose; you may not remove the copyright notice from any copies of Content; you may not store all or any of the Content on any electronic or magnetic storage medium. This notice supersedes all other applicable contracts, laws and treaties. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of national and international law. > > I dare you to quote this post! If you do, please enclose full name, address and credit card number for the attention of my lawyers. _yawn_ ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2016, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173/48 "2016-12-22T15:08:03Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > _yawn_ This message is confidential, intended only for the named recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient(s), you are notified that the dissemination, distribution or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender at either the e-mail address [or fax] or the telephone number above and delete this post from your computer [or discard this fax]. Thank you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-2-douchebag-lawyers-paul-r-hansmeier-and-john-l-steele/775173.md?page=2)