Oklahoma Publishing Company et al v. Conradt, Civil No. 08-00713 (W.D. Ok. filed July 14, 2008).
Status: Settled for undisclosed payment
The publisher of the The Oklahoman newspaper and the newsok.com web site sued James W. Conradt, the creator of a University of Nebraska football fan site (www.darthhusker.com), after he posted a fake news story that mimicked the appearance of the newsok site on an Internet bulletin board, and placed a link to it on his own site. The fake story said that two University of Oklahoma football players, which were named, had been arrested on charges of cocaine distribution. Conradt removed the fake article after the newspaper served him with a cease and desist letter. The paper filed suit a few days later, alleging libel, and copyright and trademark infringement. The parties reached a settlement in Sept. 2008 which included an apology and undisclosed payment from Conradt.
Links and Court Documents:
http://newsok.com/article/keyword/3270140/
http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9886548
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/big12/2008-07-10-oklahoma-hoax_N.htm
http://www.newsok.com/article/3295059
http://dockets.justia.com/docket/court-okwdce/case_no-5:2008cv00713/case_id-70011/