Re:Ask HN: Can one sue platforms like Reddit or Quora for pl...
by tptacek on Saturday October 04, 2014 @09:29AM
(#8409441)
First, you probably can't sue anyone in the US for plagiarism, because plagiarism isn't a tort.
If all that's been ripped off is an idea, and that idea isn't something like a trade secret they stole from you, you're out of luck.
If Quora is itself actively publishing something that you wrote, which you'd therefore have copyright to, then the DMCA does not necessarily immunize them from suit. DMCA safe harbor applies only if the provider lacks "red-flag knowledge" of infringement. If they themselves infringe, like Kim Schmitz did at MegaUpload, then they are S.O.L.
Of course, you're not going to make any money suing Quora over a single post.
If all that's been ripped off is an idea, and that idea isn't something like a trade secret they stole from you, you're out of luck.
If Quora is itself actively publishing something that you wrote, which you'd therefore have copyright to, then the DMCA does not necessarily immunize them from suit. DMCA safe harbor applies only if the provider lacks "red-flag knowledge" of infringement. If they themselves infringe, like Kim Schmitz did at MegaUpload, then they are S.O.L.
Of course, you're not going to make any money suing Quora over a single post.