Litigation

Shop To Earn lawyer ups the ante with financial blogger

By Tracy Coenen

ShopToEarn is a multi-level marketing company recruiting new members who can receive a small percentage of cash back on their internet purchases. If they recruit enough new people into the scheme, who pay the $450 fee and do some shopping of their own, they can make a little more money.

I have a dim view of this program, and so does Everyday Finance. The blogger at Everyday Finance was threatened by MLM attorney Gerald Nehra about posting his opinions on the company. The blogger amended parts of his original article, making it very clear that he was citing personal opinions (both good and bad) about the program. I got my own cease and desist letter this week from Gerry Nehra and Shop To Earn.

But that’s not enough. Now Gerry Nehra is demanding that the blogger take down his whole site or legal action will be taken. Are you kidding me? The blogger shouldn’t have to take down any comments about Shop To Earn and Shop To Earth, much less take down the whole site. Here’s Nehra’s latest note making this threat:

Your minor word changes DO NOT remedy the problem - the site should be taken down within 24 hours or the company will pursue all legal remedies.

Gerald Nehra

Counsel to ShopToEarn

Bloggers unite! We must stand up to rogue attorneys who make these kinds of threats to bloggers. Gerald Nehra and ShopToEarn have no right to dictate whether Everyday Finance exists or not. Posts about personal finance issues that don’t reference Shop To Earn cannot be controlled by them. They should not be allowed to bully bloggers in this manner.

Investigative journalist Gary Weiss has it right: The company is doing nothing but drawing negative attention to itself.

Sam Antar is weighing in too, saying:

It is unfortunate that too many companies like Shop To Earn are bullying critics with litigation. Critical analysis of companies is an important part of our vibrant capitalist economy and such free speech is protected by our Constitution. If corporate bullying is allowed to continue, our nation risks a downward spiral into crony capitalism.

If you believe bloggers need to be protected from outrageous threats like these, please write about Shop To Earn and Gerald Nehra’s threats on your own blog. Come back here and post a link to your blog. I’ll be following up on this issue with posts featuring all the bloggers who join the fight and take a stand against the bullying of bloggers who voice their opinions.

Full post as published by The FRAUDfiles Blog on July 15, 2008 (boomark / email).