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9-30-2000:
The Dualstar lawyers have launched the
latest salvo in their attack on fan expression. On September 29, 2000
new guidelines for fan sponsored websites were posted on the official Olsen
website, mary-kateandashley.com. The guidelines, as posted (click
to view), are far more sweeping than
originally expected. The issues at hand go far beyond the debate over
whether certain sites such as ours can use a domain name relating to the
twins. They now wish to very severely restrict what you can do
with even the simplest fan page whether you have a domain name, or
not. And in their carefully worded legal jargon, they leave enough
wiggle room on their part to pretty much leave you thinking they can shut your
site down, at will, for even unspecified infractions of their so called
guidelines. You should be aware that much of what they seem to threaten
they can do, they legally can not. However, since every site is unique
in its situation, you should evaluate your own situation carefully and
objectively before just submitting to every request.
OlsenTwins.net, in cooperation
with other fan sites big and small, will keep you informed of the latest
developments regarding these most troubling developments. One would hope
that at some point the Dualstar team would realize the damage they are doing
to the very fan base that makes their empire possible. Without fans, no
celebrity would be famous.
In response to this latest move on
the part of Dualstar we encourage you to do the following:
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On Monday, Oct. 2, at 7PM eastern (6
central/4 pacific/ 2300GMT) the
mary-kateandashley.com webmaster will be hosting a re-scheduled session of his
weekly online chats. If you can make it to the chat, please politely
voice your opinion on the new guidelines they are imposing on
us. The chat is held at http://www.mary-kateandashley.com/chat/
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Since the very existence of
sites like ours is in jeopardy, please make note of other fan resources,
especially the Olsen Discussion Board @ sweetin.com. Should
this site, or other sites get shut down, it will be a forum to keep you
informed as to what happened, and what the future holds for any of the
sites you love. The Olsen Discussion board @ sweetin.com can
be reached at http://www.sweetin.com/cgi-local/messagesummary.pl?olsen
Visit it and bookmark it today!
Stay tuned for future
developments. We apologize to those of you who are sick of hearing
about lawyers and want to just visit to enjoy the Olsen material on this
site. We feel obliged however to keep you keenly aware of the very
forces which are at work to extinguish fan outlets such as ours.
Thank you all for your time, consideration and support.
Jimmy
webmaster@olsentwins.net |
9-9-2000:
Lawyers representing Mary-Kate and
Ashley Olsen and their company Dualstar Entertainment Group, Inc. have
contacted the owners of this web site and other higher profile fan
sponsored web sites. A primary concern voiced by the
lawyers for Dualstar is over the use of Olsen related domain names
such as olsentwins.net, on sites not run or controlled by Dualstar.
The lawyers are requesting that sites such as ours cease
operations. Given the fact that OlsenTwins.net is a fan
sponsored web site promoting only the positive side of Mary-Kate and
Ashley's public persona, we feel that such a request is a bit over the
top.
Our mission as a fan sponsored web site
has, and continues to be, one of presenting material of interest to
Olsen fans worldwide, in a positive, career promoting fashion.
Our hopes are that the legal teams representing the Olsens will
ultimately see that the mission of this and other fansites is only
positive, and does not detract in any meaningful way from the empire
that Mary-Kate and Ashley have worked hard to build. Since
1998, OlsenTwins.net has been committed to connecting fans throughout
the world. We hope to continue this mission, as we feel
sites like this only enhance the fan experience, not harm
it.
OlsenTwins.net appreciates your
continued support during these trying times. We will work
hard to keep you informed of any and all developments. You can
track an ongoing discussion of this matter at the Olsen
Discussion Board @ sweetin.com.
Thank you for your support,
Jimmy
webmaster@olsentwins.net |
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