All I want for Christmas is a cease and desist letter.

Before this goes any further, the president of the local chapter of MOMS Club emailed me this morning because they "received an email from one of your "fans" claiming that we were hounding you about MOMS Club" She added the one she got "...yesterday was pretty nasty and foul..."

I just got a copy of the email forwarded to me and while I'd hardly call it "nasty" or "foul" (the MOMS need to toughen up a bit!) it is nonetheless totally uneccessary to email anyone on my behalf regarding this issue.

I appreciate the thought but the local chapter I have linked to on this website is not responsible for this harrassment. The International Organization is the only part of the group currently asking me, with threats of legal action, to remove the hypertext links from my website.

So promise me you won't send any more mail to the Berkley Chapter via their website. As I have repeatedly said there were (and still are) many women in the group I have liked, do like or at least respect. One of the people your hate mail has been directed to is one of the people in the group I do respect greatly.

Besides this is my disagreement and I intend to deal with it...and write about all the stupidity here. No email necessary!

Speaking of email!

Last night a few emails were shot my way from the same Area Coordinator who 'politely' asked me to remove the hypertext links to the Moms Club® website and the Local Chapter website.

She says, "While people do link to other websites and never ask permission, should one of the organizations or individuals you are linking to expressly forbid you to link their site, you are required to remove it."

According to what law is this the case? I'm extremely curious about this 'requirement'.

"We have had this issue within International MOMS Club® one other time and pursued legal action, so do know of what we speak." 

This is odd because I spent a few hours researching the legalities of hypertext links last night, and saw no mention of any case referring to International MOMS Club®. Perhaps I missed it, entirely possible.

"Per my higher-ups at International MOMS Club® you are once again being asked to remove any and all direct links from your website to the International MOMS Club® website as well as those to any local chapter of the organization.  I have been advised to let you know that should you ignore the request, MOMS Club's® lawyer will be contacted to pursue the matter further."

In my reply to this email I brought up this:

"I'm just surprised a non profit organization would take the time and money allocated to provide support to stay at home mothers to pursue making sure my little website doesn't hyperlink to the MOMS Club website."

I also brought up the fact that this type of email and the threats of legal action over a stupid link to their website tarnishes their 'image' far more than a hypertext link from my site ever could.

I also collected some links to send to Ms Asst. Area Coordinator, but then since I requested she not contact me further and instead had her organization's lawyer contact me with some sort of real legal issue, I thought it would be polite to give her the same consideration.

So I'll share here the information I found about the legal issues of links.

Alot has been written in Wired Magazine about the issue.

There was the issue about NPR's ridiculous link policy.

This one was titled, appropriately, A Big Stink Over A Simple Link.

Finally, this editorial is absolutely to the point.

A case which had gone to trial (in 6/02) is documented here. (He won his case.)

Some sites which clarify things like 'link law':

Chilling Effects

Google Directory.

Finally, my question for the MOMS Club® what exactly does my direct link to your website say about your organization? How will not having the link make any difference for the 'image' of MOMS Club®?

It seems to me this debacle is far more damaging to the MOMS Club® organization and it might be wiser to let it die and move right along rather than drag this out any further.

But then, that's just my two cents.

Comments

[AB]

RE: The Mom's Club linkage...go to google and in the search box type in links:www.momsclub.org to see all of the 184 sites that link to the Club, most of which are boring and cheesy. Are they going to take action against this boob-obsessed fan?
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=the*leche*connection

Ummm....hello, paternity testing site that I don't think is supported by the Mom's Club:
http://ezdna.com/DNA-Paternity-Testing.htm

[LargeMarge]

I am thoroughly enjoying your little dialog with the lovely ladies at the MOMS club. However, I am just a bit confused. Isn't this the website where I sign up to join my local chapter? Aren't you the MOMS Club with a super sneaky new URL? Come on, you can tell me -- this really is a back door to the wacky world of Stay At Home Mom heaven, isn't it? Can I sign up to host the next playgroup? For a theme, I suggest "running with scissors and other sharp objects"; for circle time, we can focus on "swearing like you really mean it"; and for crafts, we could create voodoo dolls of the National Club Leaders and practice sticking them with pins. Snacks will include electric jell-o shots, ritalin brownies, and pumped breast milk infused with benadryl. That should quell the little muffins!!

[Short North Mama]

Uh oh.

Um, I sent them an email.

I hope it didn't get you in any more trouble than you were alreaday in. If it would help, my husband is an attorney. He also has some friends who practice first amendment law. They don't practice in Michigan, but they could probably give you some decent advice.

Your situation just reminded me of a little falling out I had with my own playgroup. Fortunately, they weren't chasing me all over the internet harassing me for complaining about them. I can't believe the weird Mom's Club people just will not let it drop.

Sorry for causing you more trouble.
Amber

[Lunasea]

This whole saga is completely cracking me up. I didn't realize the MOMS Club was hiding and don't want anyone to find them.

[DaFFy]

My, my, my! Who's an oversensitive little organisation then? Hmmm?

They are making themselves appear very churlish and smallminded - or perhaps they were already?

[Jenn]

I heart you and your "Bite me MOMS Club" attitude. Perhaps, just to keep them really busy and make their lawyer fees worth it, anyone who has a blog should post an entry asking everyone else to be sure to NOT link to MOMS Club. It would be like watching a dog chase it's tail trying to shut down all of the links to them. ;-)

[flea]

A couple of weeks ago I had a little outburst on my blog about Mombots. I may have said something about finding their company intolerable. I got 96 positive responses, 3 negative ones, and a very cruel internet (((hug))) from you. Clearly, I should have just kept my mouth shut. The Mombots in my life pale in comparison to the Mombots in yours.

[Jenn (but not the one who commented above)]

I just noticed your disclaimer on the sidebar about your MOMS Club linkage and frankly, I think I may have just peed a little bit from laughing. Love it.

[Pink Poppy]

This is just the funniest thing! I won't send an e-mail. But I might just HAVE to click through on all of the links a few times just so that (if any of them are clever enough to track referrals) they will see JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE are "onto" them as a result of their harrassment of you. These people have ENTIRELY too much time on their hands. Maybe I should invite them over to wrap Christmas presents and put up the decorations at my house? Hmmmm... Good plan.

[Mieke]

I cannot begin to tell you how much I am enjoying this whole MOMS CLUB situation. They clearly have no idea how foolish they look. Oh my God, I couldn't stop laughing. What a bunch on ninnies.

[deb]

Thanks for dredging up my own playgroup nightmares... it is nice to know I'm not alone.

[Sukey]

I can see them complaining about direct linking photos or whatnot - but doing the online equivalent of clamping their hands over your mouth is pathetic micromanaging.

Love your blog! It makes me laaawwff. ;)

[alice, uptown]

I would have to guess that members of that little club got laid, got knocked up and haven't gotten laid since, given how much time they seem to have on their hands. I thought motherhood was a 24/7 deal, unless you had previously negotiated a better contract with it. (My friend, doctor-of-repro-endo-mom, says frequently to her son: "I think you've had enough mommy time for now." And she creates mommies for a living and does research so more women can be mommies....) As for your disclaimer, it rocks.

[nikki]

I think you should get all the mothers in the MOMS club hats for Christmas.....and then have your beautiful daughter wear them all before you give them to those nasty women (and make sure she scratches her head with the hats on). Maybe then they will learn there are better things in this life to focus their energy on.

[avril]

The MOM'S CLUB site won't let me in. I stand outside their charming little door and I knock and knock (or "click" as they like to point out for the IQ-challenged) and nothing happens. Maybe they know that I hate them already because of the cheesy little Thomas Kinkade ("Painter of Light") graphic. Or maybe they know I don't have children. Or maybe they're too busy spiking their instant hot chocolate to get up and answer the door. Anyway you cut it, I'm not feeling the love....

[jessteronimo]

Might you have a harassment case against this little club of Moms [you'd hate to have]?

[E.M.]

Why is it that everything I've ever heard via word-of-mouth or first hand experiences with MOMS CLUB is bad? I'm not kidding, I've never heard a single positive thing from anyone that I've known personally about this group. Kind of a bummer really...