Legal Writing

Sleazy

It’s time again to raise the issue of law firms that republish the works of others.

This time, it’s Finkelstein Newman Ferrara LLP — a small firm that publishes the ever-so-popular New York Real Estate Lawyer’s Blog (which now has an Alexa rank < 550,000). It’s a blog about lots of things; but it has little to do with New York real estate.

The latest post at the blog (?BLOOMBERG GIVES VINCENT SCHIRALDI PROBATION?) is a republished (and lightly edited) press release from Mayor Bloomberg.

A recent post (?Russia excited by new High Speed Rail; US system just around the bend?) is a republished post from the official blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

On and on it goes. Post after post (about ten per day) consists of nothing more than the contents of things already published by government officials or government agencies, except for some posts lifted from news sources like NBC.

Compare this post from the firm’s blog (?LAW PROFESSOR SUES OVER SQUATTER RIGHTS?) to this article (?‘Potty Parity’ Advocate Threatens Loo Suits?) published by NBC.

They’re identical!

Compare this post (?POLITICAL CORRECTNESS KILLED SOLIDERS?) to this article (?63% Say Political Correctness Kept Military From Preventing Ford Hood Massacre?) published by Rasmussen Reports, an “an electronic media company” that makes money “by selling advertising, title sponsorships, subscriptions, and content.”

They’re identical!

Finkelstein Newman Ferrara LLP claims rights to what it republishes (by adding a copyright notice to the republished material).

It advances the claim with this:

Please be advised that the views and opinions expressed on this website are exclusive to the identified author(s), whether or not such individual(s) may be affiliated with Finkelstein Newman Ferrara LLP. By making a submission, the identified author is deemed to have consented to its publication and release for use on our website and to the republication of such post or comment (and the use of the author’s name and/or likeness) in any fashion or form, electronic or otherwise, as the owner of this website may determine. Once accepted for publication, the submission shall become the property of Finkelstein Newman Ferrara LLP.

The identified author(s) is Lucas Ferrara, a partner at the firm.

So . . . when Mayor Bloomberg issues a press release and then Ferrara reissues it, it doesn’t contain the mayor’s views and opinions; it contains Ferrara’s.

Now . . . that is weird.

Full post as published by Set in Style on December 01, 2009 (boomark / email).