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Gripe Sites

The Gripe Site – Royal Dutch Shell vs. Robert Eringer

by LloydBricks May 17, 2012

One consequence of global anger about widespread banking fraud, corruption, and environmental devastation as of late has been the creation of the online ‘gripe site’ such as those by author, blogger and self-proclaimed ‘intelligence adviser’ Robert Eringer, along with the more popular site of Royal Dutch Shell. These are websites dedicated to exposing what their writers see as unfair, illegal or corrupt behaviour by individuals or companies.

Comparing the sites, Robert Eringer’s primary website could not be more different from royaldutchshellplc.com—one of the most well known of such sites. The numerous websites of Robert Eringer are a clear piece of self- promotion; alongside the half-baked conspiracy theories and wild claims of Eringer’s own personal involvement with powerful people are links to purchase his books. These include memoirs, spy thrillers and non-fiction books. All appear to have been self-published and not very well-received. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gripe Sites

By John Donovan

The article printed below is from our archives. It is about gripe web sites such as this one and contains a warning by Guy Martin, of the law firm Carter-Ruck concerning “potentially disastrous legal consequences for making untrue allegations which are defamatory of companies or individuals…” 

It is therefore a testimony to our caution and good judgement that after nearly two decades of operating websites focused on Royal Dutch Shell, the evil oil giant and its in-house army of 600 litigators have self-evidently never had grounds to sue us for defamation. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

GRIPING AND GRINNING: REPUTATION NETWORKS START WITH ONE

I want to share another story. According to this article, a single site run by a man and his octagenarian father in the UK has cost the petro-giant Shell billions of dollars. And it all started with a gripe.The Donovan website has become an open wound for Shell.

By Max Lenderman

We all know the power of reputation networks. It is how eBay runs its business. A web of comments for or against a particular vendor drives its sales. Overall, people talking about their experiences with a brand, product or service is how commerce will function. Forget advertising. That’s just fluff. The real brand equity is in the reputation networks.

Case in point: this particular study shows that online customer product reviews drive satisfaction and loyalty and provide a competitive advantage for sites that offer them. No duh. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Court Protects Blogger Gripe Sites!

Plave thinks from a legal standpoint that trying to remove online postings or prevent bloggers from posting content is a fruitless activity for an offended firm. "There is no point in a business trying to stop comment," he says, alluding to first amendment rights that protect the free speech of American citizens. "This is why firms do not pursue pulling content off demeaning websites."

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gripe Site Creator To Recover $30K In Legal Fees

In dismissing the case, Cleland ruled that White had a free speech right to use the company's name, noting that he hadn't created them for commercial gain.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gripe site prevails in domain cybersquatting case

Gripe site prevails in domain cybersquatting caseBy Jacqui Chenggripe site that incorporates a company's entire trademark into its domain is still protected under the First Amendment, a US District Judge has ruled.

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The growing phenomenon of “gripe sites” that skewer Bank of America, Starbucks, and other corporations

A Fight Back Emerges

Inching beyond single-issue protests, messages that strike at the very heart of corporate capitalism are penetrating popular culture. Witness, for example, Michael Moore’s film Capitalism: A Love Story, or the saga of Californian Ann “Rockerchic” Minch, who launched a debtor’s revolt this year when she posted a video on You Tube that railed against Bank of America for hiking her credit card interest rate.

After publicly referring to bank executives as “evil, thieving bastards,” Minch won a reduction in her interest rate. Minch’s You Tube uprising, which has received hundreds of thousands of views and inspired other anti-bank videos, could be the first shot of what the new activist calls “The American Debtor’s Revolution.” To keep the movement going, Minch maintains a website and posts follow-up videos. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.