Free Dominion Internet Defense Fund Initiative

[Mark Fournier]

Free Dominion Internet Defense Fund Initiative

Mark Fournier
June 28, 2012

On June 14, 2012 the Ontario Court of Appeals issued a ruling in blogger John Baglow's appeal of Superior Court of Ontario Justice Peter Annis’ widely-lauded dismissal of Baglow’s defamation suit against a fellow internet political debater, Roger Smith, and the operators of the Free Dominion website, Mark and Connie Fournier. The appeals court did not overturn Justice Annis’ dismissal because he erred in finding that the comment was not defamatory, but because the case raised a number of public interest and legal issues that the higher court felt should be dealt with by having a full trial.

Oddly, although going through a full trial will be an expensive and time consuming process for us, we are pleased with their finding. We see it as a golden opportunity to make important fundamental law that will protect internet users across Canada, and beyond our borders. The appeals court has instructed the parties to return to Superior Court with expert witnesses who can better inform the court of the many new issues arising from this internet-based defamation case. Traditional defamation law is badly in need of an update in its application to the internet, and it is gratifying to see that the judges could see that they needed to examine that.

Unfortunately, and for reasons we do not understand, the high court ordered us to pay John Baglow $14,000 in costs. It is difficult because the appeals court wants us to help them examine these important issues, yet they placed a financial burden on us that could potentially knock us out of the game. If this happens it will be bad news for Canadian internet users. We will remain in an era where internet arguments will be settled by SLAPP suits and lawfare, and, to us, that is completely unacceptable.

The bottom line is we are now faced with the tyranny of the urgent. We must immediately raise the funds to keep our many cases alive and thereby continue to make good law that protects us all. To this end we have started a fundraising initiative at the Indiegogo website.

http://www.indiegogo.com/freedominion?a=787225

You can help us by sharing the above link on all of your social media and sending it to all of your friends, and to any networks you think will pass it around.

Free Dominion members have been incredibly generous through all of these years. We could not have kept going as long as we have without you, and we owe you our thanks. But, the game just got bigger and more expensive so we have to expand our fundraising efforts beyond this site, even, perhaps, beyond Canada.

With your help, we can do it!

[backhoe]

OK, I posted the appeal & links on my facebook page and just to prove I have a nasty sense of humor, Zombie Miss Emily's as well. Maybe some of those thousands of church people she knew will be curious and read the $#@!-ed thing...

Standing by.

[Connie Fournier]

Thanks, backhoe!

[styky]

I've sent the link to my usual contacts but only in my email list. This is the only place I post pretty much and I don't belong to facebook or twitter

I know you'll make good use of my donation

[Connie Fournier]

I've sent the link to my usual contacts but only in my email list. This is the only place I post pretty much and I don't belong to facebook or twitter

I know you'll make good use of my donation

Thanks, styky! This is exactly what we are hoping people will do. FDers give their hearts out all the time...this is NOT a financial appeal to FDers. It is an appeal to people outside of FD who care about internet freedom.

[wildernessvoice]

Shoved it up on Facebook.

[Connie Fournier]

Shoved it up on Facebook.

Thank you!!

[wildernessvoice]

Shoved it up on Facebook.

Thank you!!

Thank me???
It is you and Mark that have your butts on the firing line!!

You need a hot button link or a banner ad so it is easy to find from Free Dominion.

[styky]

Shoved it up on Facebook.

Thank you!!

Thank me???
It is you and Mark that have your butts on the firing line!!

You need a hot button link or a banner ad so it is easy to find from Free Dominion.

Excellent idea and there should be banners here.

[Connie Fournier]

We've got our first donation! Thanks to everyone who has been sharing the link!

[styky]

We've got our first donation! Thanks to everyone who has been sharing the link!

It's a start.

[Blaze Pascal]

I'm notifying some Canadian columnists and reporters. Will move on to some Canadian and American Bloggers. Please notify the same since your contacts and my contacts will differ. Please use email and twitter.

[styky]

I'm notifying some Canadian columnists and reporters. Will move on to some Canadian and American Bloggers. Please notify the same since your contacts and my contacts will differ. Please use email and twitter.

Excellent

[fourhorses]

Shoved it up on Facebook.

Thank you!!

Thank me???
It is you and Mark that have your butts on the firing line!!

You need a hot button link or a banner ad so it is easy to find from Free Dominion.

Excellent idea and there should be banners here.

explain BANNERS

[styky]

Shoved it up on Facebook.

Thank you!!

Thank me???
It is you and Mark that have your butts on the firing line!!

You need a hot button link or a banner ad so it is easy to find from Free Dominion.

Excellent idea and there should be banners here.

explain BANNERS

My understanding is the advertisements you see between postings.