The whole Gina/Fox Debacle: Case Closed
Feb. 18th, 2004 01:11 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
amezriI am posting this here because, as most of you know, I recieved one of those "OMG!!!!1!!one We will sue you!!1" e-mails. It seems after some great work by a few people, there is a real answer. The answer being that certain people are clearly not well.
The following is a general statement being posted by those of us who have recieved the e-mails and threats, and maybe even by those who support us. *shrug* I don't know. I don't want to start another fight or continue this one. This should just kill the lie.
------------------------------------[ START STATEMENT ]------------------------------------
Over the last few months, various forums in the X-Men fandom have found themselves under attack by someone called Gina DeMarco (http://www.loganandmarie.com). While fandom trolling is not original or unsual, Ms DeMarco started making threats a month ago against people who called her out on her trolling behaviour.
What makes this situation unique is that Ms. DeMarco was posting her threats from a Fox Studios server. The last few weeks have seen Ms DeMarco making threats of legal action by Fox Studios on behalf of herself and her friend Karen (http://www.postcardsfromtheedge.org).
Last week,at least a dozen people, including ourselves, received the email below. This was not the first threat of legal action they've made (reference: http://www.wolverineandrogue.com/ginakaren.html).
The email reads as follows:
All,
There have been many slanderous remarks made about our employee Gina DeMarco authored by yourselves. We would appreciate in the future that you refrain from posting or making any reference to her in a public manner. She is an employee of 20th Century Fox Studios and we take these slanderous remarks seriously.
Also refrain from making any derogatory comments about Karen [last name removed to protect privacy. This is a reference to the same Karen who received a copy of the email] as she is an affiliate of Bad Hat Harry Productions, which is a part of 20th Century Fox.
Let it be known that refusal to comply with our request will not only result in closure of your websites but also a lawsuit against you for trademark infringement and slander. Fox traditionally appreciates its fans but will protect our employees from them as well.
I hope I have made myself clear.
Sincerely,
Debra [last name removed]
Sr. Counsel
20th Century Fox Studios
The continued threat of legal action prompted some of those threatened to contact Fox Studios. Not to mention suspicions were raised by the odds that Senior Legal Counsel might indeed know the difference between slander and libel.
Devil Doll (http://www.wolverineandrogue.com) relates the following:
On February 17th, I spoke with the Executive Director of Human Resources at 20th Century Fox regarding this and similar threats made against fans by and for Gina and Karen.
I was told the above email is completely fraudulent and in no way authorized by anyone at Fox with the power to make such statements. In addition, I was told that Gina and Karen have absolutely no connection at all to 20th Century Fox, and any claims to the contrary, or claims of enjoying Fox's legal protection, are fraudulent.
If you have received any emails from Debra, Gina, or Karen claiming that you could be subject to legal action by 20th Century Fox, you can ignore any such statements. They are a misrepresentation of Fox, and are not to be taken seriously.
Fox is investigating this situation and is collecting information regarding these claims. If you have received any emails from Debra, Gina, or Karen implying that Gina and/or Karen are affiliated with or protected by 20th Century Fox in any way, please contact me and I will tell you who to contact at Fox. Fox asks that you not reply to the "Debra" email address.
This is obviously a very serious situation, and one that Fox is not taking lightly. Several members of the Super Hero Hype message boards received similar emails, and the owner of SHH is also cooperating fully with Fox. You can read his statement on the matter here:
http://www.superherohype.com/forums/announcement.php?s=&forumid=198
I am hopeful that Fox's confirmation of the fraudulent nature of these threats will bring an end to this situation. I also hope that from here forward we will be allowed to enjoy fandom, rather than feeling harassed and threatened by a small number of people who appear to enjoy that sort of thing.
Devil Doll
------------------------------------[ END STATEMENT ]------------------------------------
So. Yes. Gina, Karen, Autumn, whoever else was perpetuating the lie: You've been made. Cut it out. Go back to your little group of followers and stop harrassing us. 'Kay? Thanks. Bye.
Anyone is free to leave a comment here. And hey, if you're not on my friends list let me know how you found my LJ. Just curious how far the word will go.
The following is a general statement being posted by those of us who have recieved the e-mails and threats, and maybe even by those who support us. *shrug* I don't know. I don't want to start another fight or continue this one. This should just kill the lie.
------------------------------------[ START STATEMENT ]------------------------------------
Over the last few months, various forums in the X-Men fandom have found themselves under attack by someone called Gina DeMarco (http://www.loganandmarie.com). While fandom trolling is not original or unsual, Ms DeMarco started making threats a month ago against people who called her out on her trolling behaviour.
What makes this situation unique is that Ms. DeMarco was posting her threats from a Fox Studios server. The last few weeks have seen Ms DeMarco making threats of legal action by Fox Studios on behalf of herself and her friend Karen (http://www.postcardsfromtheedge.org).
Last week,at least a dozen people, including ourselves, received the email below. This was not the first threat of legal action they've made (reference: http://www.wolverineandrogue.com/ginakaren.html).
The email reads as follows:
All,
There have been many slanderous remarks made about our employee Gina DeMarco authored by yourselves. We would appreciate in the future that you refrain from posting or making any reference to her in a public manner. She is an employee of 20th Century Fox Studios and we take these slanderous remarks seriously.
Also refrain from making any derogatory comments about Karen [last name removed to protect privacy. This is a reference to the same Karen who received a copy of the email] as she is an affiliate of Bad Hat Harry Productions, which is a part of 20th Century Fox.
Let it be known that refusal to comply with our request will not only result in closure of your websites but also a lawsuit against you for trademark infringement and slander. Fox traditionally appreciates its fans but will protect our employees from them as well.
I hope I have made myself clear.
Sincerely,
Debra [last name removed]
Sr. Counsel
20th Century Fox Studios
The continued threat of legal action prompted some of those threatened to contact Fox Studios. Not to mention suspicions were raised by the odds that Senior Legal Counsel might indeed know the difference between slander and libel.
Devil Doll (http://www.wolverineandrogue.com) relates the following:
On February 17th, I spoke with the Executive Director of Human Resources at 20th Century Fox regarding this and similar threats made against fans by and for Gina and Karen.
I was told the above email is completely fraudulent and in no way authorized by anyone at Fox with the power to make such statements. In addition, I was told that Gina and Karen have absolutely no connection at all to 20th Century Fox, and any claims to the contrary, or claims of enjoying Fox's legal protection, are fraudulent.
If you have received any emails from Debra, Gina, or Karen claiming that you could be subject to legal action by 20th Century Fox, you can ignore any such statements. They are a misrepresentation of Fox, and are not to be taken seriously.
Fox is investigating this situation and is collecting information regarding these claims. If you have received any emails from Debra, Gina, or Karen implying that Gina and/or Karen are affiliated with or protected by 20th Century Fox in any way, please contact me and I will tell you who to contact at Fox. Fox asks that you not reply to the "Debra" email address.
This is obviously a very serious situation, and one that Fox is not taking lightly. Several members of the Super Hero Hype message boards received similar emails, and the owner of SHH is also cooperating fully with Fox. You can read his statement on the matter here:
http://www.superherohype.com/forums/announcement.php?s=&forumid=198
I am hopeful that Fox's confirmation of the fraudulent nature of these threats will bring an end to this situation. I also hope that from here forward we will be allowed to enjoy fandom, rather than feeling harassed and threatened by a small number of people who appear to enjoy that sort of thing.
Devil Doll
------------------------------------[ END STATEMENT ]------------------------------------
So. Yes. Gina, Karen, Autumn, whoever else was perpetuating the lie: You've been made. Cut it out. Go back to your little group of followers and stop harrassing us. 'Kay? Thanks. Bye.
Anyone is free to leave a comment here. And hey, if you're not on my friends list let me know how you found my LJ. Just curious how far the word will go.
