Yet, in their deluded minds, they're innocent babes! Earlier this morning, they sent out a press release blaming bloggers for their current travails. Ha!
]
“In the attempt to maintain the reputation and integrity of the
trademarks, Dervaes Institute has privately informed, to date, a total
of 16 organizations, publishers and businesses about the proper usage of
the registered terms,” the press release reads (their underlining, not ours). “No threat was made against anyone's first
amendment rights; yet, there has been a heated argument in the media
against what should have been the Dervaeses' normal rights to protect
their trademarks.”
“No threat”? That's why Facebook groups with the terms were taken down? That's why KCRW-FM 89.9–a station that knows a bit or two about First Amendment rights–took down a story advertising a urban homestead lecture at the Santa Monica Library? Dingbats.
What's even more ludicrous, however, is how the Dervaeses then lash out at “bloggers.”
“Blogging is often confused with reporting; and there are now cases
where people have engaged in a negative blogging campaign aimed at
discrediting the Dervaes family,” the press release states. “Whereas professional reporters
substantiate their news before publishing stories and are careful not to
make slanderous statements, bloggers have no editors and often
demonstrate little or no interest in supporting their claims with fact.
As a result, irresponsible or malicious blogging can cause harm to
people and businesses.”
Blogging not reporting? That's so 2000. And gracias to the Dervaeses' loud mouths–all people have had to do is quote from their own writings to show what Thought Police this clan of crypto-capitalists are.
More–much more–on this issue in the coming days.
