CALGARY, AB: On October 22, 2020, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)’s Legal Department served notice to the Western Standard (WS) that it believed that it was in violation of the trademark of its “Gem” logo. .The CBC cited a graphic posted by WS on its social media accounts stating “Sick of fake news?” beside the CBC logo, above a line stating “Follow us instead” beside the WS logo. .The CBC’s Legal Department demanded that the WS remove the graphic associating it with “Fake News”, and all other uses of the CBC’s logo on the WS website and social media channels. The WS regularly refers to the CBC on its social media material promoting the WS as an alternative to government-owned and government-funded media. .The full letter from the CBC’s Legal Department can be read here..Download.Wildrose Media Corp. President & CEO and WS Publisher Derek Fildebrandt responded to the CBC..“No. We will not be censored by the CBC. We will not let the CBC’s billion-dollar taxpayer-budget bully us into compliance. We will not stop calling out fake news. We will not stop fighting against government-ownership and government-funding of the media.” .“If the CBC has extra money to fund an entire legal department to try and intimidate the free press, then they should refund this money back to taxpayers.” .“The Western Standard is proud to be one of a very small number of media outlets in Canada that refuses to accept government funding or to be subject to media licensing.” .Wildrose Media Corp.’s Western Standard has retained former Alberta Minister of Justice & Solicitor General Jonathan Denis, Q.C. of Guardian Law as legal counsel. .“Our client disclaims and denies any such infraction. Relating to the alleged copyright infringement (which our client profusely denies), the concept of “fair dealing” is a well-recognized principle. “Fair dealing” is an exception to the Copyright Act R.S.C. 1985 c. C-42 that permits the use of a copyright owned by another party “for the purpose of research, private study, education, or satire.”.“Having regard to the foregoing, our client will not accede to what is clearly an attempt at censorship of an opposing view.” .The full response from Denis can be read here..Download.The Western Standard refuses to accept government funding and will not comply with any form of media licensing. The Western Standard has 600,000 monthly readers and is owned and operated in Western Canada. .For further information email info@westernstandardonline.com
CALGARY, AB: On October 22, 2020, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)’s Legal Department served notice to the Western Standard (WS) that it believed that it was in violation of the trademark of its “Gem” logo. .The CBC cited a graphic posted by WS on its social media accounts stating “Sick of fake news?” beside the CBC logo, above a line stating “Follow us instead” beside the WS logo. .The CBC’s Legal Department demanded that the WS remove the graphic associating it with “Fake News”, and all other uses of the CBC’s logo on the WS website and social media channels. The WS regularly refers to the CBC on its social media material promoting the WS as an alternative to government-owned and government-funded media. .The full letter from the CBC’s Legal Department can be read here..Download.Wildrose Media Corp. President & CEO and WS Publisher Derek Fildebrandt responded to the CBC..“No. We will not be censored by the CBC. We will not let the CBC’s billion-dollar taxpayer-budget bully us into compliance. We will not stop calling out fake news. We will not stop fighting against government-ownership and government-funding of the media.” .“If the CBC has extra money to fund an entire legal department to try and intimidate the free press, then they should refund this money back to taxpayers.” .“The Western Standard is proud to be one of a very small number of media outlets in Canada that refuses to accept government funding or to be subject to media licensing.” .Wildrose Media Corp.’s Western Standard has retained former Alberta Minister of Justice & Solicitor General Jonathan Denis, Q.C. of Guardian Law as legal counsel. .“Our client disclaims and denies any such infraction. Relating to the alleged copyright infringement (which our client profusely denies), the concept of “fair dealing” is a well-recognized principle. “Fair dealing” is an exception to the Copyright Act R.S.C. 1985 c. C-42 that permits the use of a copyright owned by another party “for the purpose of research, private study, education, or satire.”.“Having regard to the foregoing, our client will not accede to what is clearly an attempt at censorship of an opposing view.” .The full response from Denis can be read here..Download.The Western Standard refuses to accept government funding and will not comply with any form of media licensing. The Western Standard has 600,000 monthly readers and is owned and operated in Western Canada. .For further information email info@westernstandardonline.com