Fossilman's Account Hacked?

[CaryDarling]

[ QUOTE ]

P: "Judge, the WPT forces the plaintiffs to sign an agreement wherein the WPT can use the likeness of the players."


[/ QUOTE ]

What you are failing to understand is that not only can the WPT use your likeness...they can use it "universally" "in perpituity." Read the terms you are agreeing to by signing their releases.

Anywhere, and everywhere throughout the universe forever, no end in sight.

No one, and I guarantee you that even the 7 on the lawsuit is saying that the WPT should not be able to use their likeness..they should only be able to do so in a limited fashion..in other words for use in promoting the tournament that is airing, and to help promote it the following year, and for use in promoting the tv show...not for use in whatever they decide to promote for the remainder of your life and beyond.

Where do you think the use of your likeness should end? Let's say you sign an endorsement for Coca Cola, and WPT signs a deal with Pepsi...do you thinkt hey should be able to put your face on a Pepsi can that says..."bruceypants when he plays in WPT tournamens enjoys a refreshing Pepsi"

[JJNJustin]

I heard that in times past Negreanu was a mean vindictive little guy. I find his comment about Greg breastfeeding to be a throwback to that part of his personality.

-J

[SA125]

Greg, your points on DN are well said and make sense, but your opening point is totally lame.

You say it doesn't bother you and only make an issue of it because it bothers other players, but then say it's okay to call them tools because they're acting like it. It's one or the other. You can't have it both ways.

To be as credible about this as you were about DN, you have to pick one and it looks like it bothers you and you just a called a tool a tool. The sugar coating doesn't hold water.

[PoppinFresh]

[ QUOTE ]

Daniel's actions re the lawsuit.
Daniel did not go to law school, nor even to college. He knows nothing about the law, and has never studied it. However, he is openly and continually expressing his opinions about the lawsuit to the public. He knows or should know that his doing so will tend to turn at least some of the public opinion against the plaintiffs. And he knows or should know that his legal opinion is worthless, since he has zero training or experience in the area of antitrust law. Therefore, he is either stupid for repeatedly expressing an worthless opinion, or he is acting at the request of the WPT or one of their agents. Hence, I said he is stupid or a sockpuppet. I really don't see how there is a legitimate 3rd option.


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The 3rd option is that he's saying that regardless of the legality of what the WPT is doing, the plaintiffs are doing the poker world harm by taking the issue to court. I'm not sure why you didn't realize this from listening to what he said.

[Zeatrix]

[ QUOTE ]

I know I sometimes express an opinion on an issue where I'm not an expert, but I pretty much always preface it with a reference to the fact that this is only my opinion, and that I'm not an expert. I have not seen Daniel do this.

As far as I know, he never came up to any of us and asked us why we were doing this.


[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, Daniel says in his video blog, right before he starts sharing his opinion to the viewers that he is NOT a lawyer and this is just his opinion.

He also wrote (I believe) in a forum post at FCP that he had talked to Andy Bloch about this issue, to what extent he didn't say.

[alphatmw]

if fossilman were a stock, it would be plummeting right now.

[CaryDarling]

[ QUOTE ]

The 3rd option is that he's saying that regardless of the legality of what the WPT is doing, the plaintiffs are doing the poker world harm by taking the issue to court. I'm not sure why you didn't realize this from listening to what he said.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm still confused as to how this will harm the poker world.

[Ray Zee]

greg it is good to see you are not an asss kisser and say whats on your mind. no money is worth compromising your style.
the lawsuit is commendable. it lets the court determine what is legal and perhaps correct. that is how it should be if two parties cannot come to an aggreement. it is not bad for poker in fact it is great for poker. whether wpt has gone too far or not, at least all others realize they have to consider the players or they may have to battle it out in court. the players-(who are us)- are what makes these companies the money, and deserve the respect due.

[bruceypants]

Well, I've read through the complaint, and it appears that the 7 plaintiffs are living in a magical fantasy land. The complaint alleges that the WPT and participating casinos have conspired to limit the number of high-stakes, televised donkaments. The complaint goes on to state that if the conspiracy were broken, that there would magically spring up tons of televised tourneys. I find that hard to believe, given that the WPT supposedly has a "monopoloy" over these tourneys and was only able to make $189,000 last year.

Secondly, the relief sought (at the bottom of the complaint) really shows the greed of the 7 plaintiffs:

5. Awarding each plaintiff general and special damages against Defendant for ...
6. Awarding each plaintiff treble the amount of damages he or she sustained ...
7. Awarding each plaintiff punitive damages for ...
8. Awarding each plaintiff all equitable relief, including restitution ...
9. Awarding Plaintiffs' costs and disbursements ...

http://www.wptlawsuit.com/files/2919.../Complaint.pdf

If the plaintiffs win and are awarded these damages, I think the WPT would have a tough time surviving as a going concern. It would actually be a form of ironic justice to see the plaintiffs win, only to have their main platform for exposure go out of business.

I understand the player's concerns that the release goes too far in granting rights. However, this is common in the industry. American Idol contestants sign away all their rights too:

[ QUOTE ]
All this stuff about people winning million-dollar recording contracts, competing for record contracts, etc? It's utter nonsense. All the contestants on American Idol are contracted to BMG Music Worldwide and 19 Entertainment when they sign on to the show. BMG has the right to exercise that option whenever they want.

Indeed, American Idol contestants sign an agreement with 19 Entertainment at the outset that limits them from taking outside offers. To date, Cowell has Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Tamyra Gray, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, and even bounced participant Frenchie Davis all signed up for management and recording deals.

Simon himself conceded as much in one interview earlier this year. "I own the recording rights -- the winners and other contestants sign with my label," he told the Copley News Service back in February.


[/ QUOTE ]

http://www.americanidol.com/auditions/rules.htm

I don't think the players have a leg to stand on here. I could sympathize with them if the WPT were making a lot of money, but the WPT is barely scraping by. If the players want the exposure provided by the WPT, then they should sign the release.

[TruePoker CEO]

"Greg's claim that he is doing this for the benefit of all poker players is BS"

I was a litigator for a number of years. If Greg Raymer says he is involved in this suit to benefit all poker players who might win a tournament on the WPT or become marketable, then why not accept that as his personal motivation. People decide to file suit for any number of reasons.

I have never met Greg Raymer, but his views on the endorsements issue have been spelled out at length here before. That he takes the time to try and educate players in forums like this is pretty indicative of his personal motivations vis a vis the "poker world". NOT everything he does is about him or building his personal "brand".

I would suggest that his word is good, period.

(I happen to doubt whether this suit can survive summary judgement, but that has nothing to do with motivation for bringing it. The use of litigation to effect change in the market is very common. The name plaintiffs often have such change as a goal, "class action" status is irrelevant.)

Truepoker CEO