It's spreading like wildfire: http://startupjunkies.org/blog/2012/06/01/lightbank-whoshere...
A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
181–190 of 228 posts
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#182Earlier quoted context omitted.
In that case, might I suggest you end this thread now? Comments on HN should be submitted when they add value; if you're not willing to actually participate in a conversation and attempt to add value, I'd say that the comments have little to no place on the site. Especially in the other parts of the thread where you and another commenter got into it and it ended with "Fuck you."
As mentioned above, jsprinkles is adding value to the discussion by explaining that this discussion should not happen here. Clearly he has experience in the matter. You act as if he is being malicious towards the OP by trying to shout down the advice of non-lawyers. He is, in fact, trying to help OP by doing the same.
I would say if he really wanted just to help, he could of stopped after the first comment he left. That was him helping, the rest I'm not so sure about.
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#183WhosHere exist by about 5 years!
The word "who" and the implication of location is not enough to hang an infringement.
It also means the same thing, and almost rhymes. "Who's Here" and "Who's Near" probably shouldn't both exist doing about the same thing - it would cause confusion. With "Who's Near Me", I think it's no longer a worry (in terms of what the law should be doing - I'm not a lawyer, so I can't speak to what it is doing until we see what happens in court, if it gets there).
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#184WhosHere's response: https://whoshere.zendesk.com/entries/21514943-the-other-side...
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#185The Other Side of the Story:
"We are not patent trolls, we are entrepreneurs and developers, and here's what we're struggling with."
https://whoshere.zendesk.com/entries/21514943-the-other-side...
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#186Who's Near Me's side of the story: https://whoshere.zendesk.com/entries/21514943-the-other-side...
It appears this isn't such a clear cut story...
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#187Earlier quoted context omitted.
> You are aware that there is legal liability for YOU being created as we speak, right? You keep asserting this repeatedly without citation (and are now doing so in a separate HN post you made on the issue). Kindly cite cases where damages have been successfully litigated around someone posting friendly advice in a web forum.
I have mentioned several times that I have firsthand involvement with unsolicited advice being given on the Internet resulting in consequences for people. I am simply not legally permitted to talk about it, nor will I say if I was the person found legally responsible. Remember, a liability does not require a law, and there are such things as torts.
So your professional legal advise is to stop giving legal advise? Are you serious?
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#188Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wish your comment was the only one, frankly, and we could really use a "you are not a lawyer, stop pretending to be one" guideline. Edit: I've made a "Ask PG" to ask for just that: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4055661
The idea that only lawyers can know anything about the law, and therefore nobody else can suggest avenues of investigation is shockingly elitist. Imagine what HN would be like if only state approved programmers were allowed to have an opinion on technical subjects. You're being down voted because you are lying about what I said and attacking me for the "crime" of trying to suggest areas of investigation for this guy.…
And it's ridiculously elitist that only brain surgeons get to cut people's brains open. I mean come on! Is this a democracy or not?!?!
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#189I agree that this is certainly in bad practice, but before everyone goes all crazy hitting the donation pool, are you or aren't you "wealthy"
From a PDF they have posted regarding emails from you (https://whoshere.zendesk.com/entries/21514943-the-other-side...):
"" I was born wealthy; I have an obscene trust fund. I assure you that if required, I will obtain the best legal representation for corporate litigation in the Silicon Valley. After your last proposal, I will resist this legal action well beyond what makes any financial sense, simply out of principal. ""
Re: A VC-funded startup called WhosHere is trying to steal my social network
#190Earlier quoted context omitted.
> you can be regarded by some as taking some of the responsibility for the advice you think you haven't given That sounds bogus to me, has anyone heard of any lawsuits of that type? That is, someone who is not a lawyer and is not presenting themselves as a lawyer being sued for giving bad legal advice?
I'll reiterate this for the benefit of context at this very location, but I have personal experience with a very similar scenario that I am not legally permitted to discuss; it was a situation of unsolicited advice resulting in consequences for people. I cannot say who. I think you'll find if it's a common experience, most people are (wisely) not going to discuss it.
As someone else has asked you already, provide an example you were NOT personally involved in.
Also: I doubt that you can talk about the specifics of the case, but there should be nothing stopping you from quoting the court case so we could look it up ourselves.
Incidentally, it appears that are providing us with legal advise here. The legal advise is that we shouldn't provide legal advise.