MALCOLM J. GROSS

PAUL A. McGINLEY

DONALD  LaBARRE, JR.

J. JACKSON EATON, III

MICHAEL A. HENRY

PATRICK J. REILLY

WILLIAM J. FRIES

ANNE K. MANLEY

SUSAN ELLIS WILD

ELIZABETH R. GRAVER

ALLEN I. TULLAR

JOHN F. GROSS

KIMBERLY G. KRUPKA

ROBERT A. ALPERT

K. A. SPOTTS-KIMMEL

GROSS, MCGINLEY, LABARRE & EATON, LLP

ATTORNEYS AT LAW

33 SOUTH SEVENTH STREET

P.O. BOX 4060

ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA 18105-4060

__________

(***) ***-****

TELEFAX (***) ***-****

E-MAIL *@****.com

Direct number: (***) ***-****

 

*NOTE WE REMOVED THE PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL ADDRESSES AS WE DON’T WANT ANYONE TO HARASS RUNNERSWORLD.COM’S LAWFIRM OR LAWYER.*

May 13, 2002

 

Robert Johnson (robertjohnson@letsrun.com)

RE:     Rodale Inc. - Unauthorized copying of Peter Snell Interview

 

Dear Mr. Johnson:

 

I am responding to the voice mail you left Friday, May 10, 2002, concerning the above-referenced matter.

 

By way of clarification, my original letter referenced a Rodale article featured on letsrun.com.  The hyperlink, when clicked on, produced a verbatim copy of an interview with Peter Snell originally published on runnersworld.com.  That interview, reproduced in its entirety, was stripped of all Rodale ads and navigational information and aids.  Contrary to your assertion, to the extent that the entire article was reproduced by letsrun.com, that republication hardly constitutes fair use.

 

Furthermore, it appears that the interview continues to run on the letsrun.com website and now appears below the fold under the heading "A Must Read!!!!!".  Again, clicking on the hyperlink fails to take viewers directly to Rodale's runnersworld.com website.  Indeed, use of the Rodale trademark runnersworld.com by letsrun.com is also infringing.  Letsrun.com has not created a hyperlink to Rodale's runnersworld.com website.  Instead, viewers who click on the hyperlink are actually prevented from reaching the runnersworld.com website and are denied access to its services and message.  In short, letsrun.com has appropriated Rodale's trademark in order to purvey its own Internet services - the letsrun.com website to an audience intending to access Rodale's website.

 

The actions of letsrun.com clearly constitute copyright and trademark infringement and unfair competition.  Demand is hereby made that letsrun.com immediately remove any and all Rodale


content from its website and remove all hyperlinks utilizing Rodale trademarks by close of business tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14, 2002.  If letsrun.com fails to comply with this cease and desist letter, my client will pursue its rights under the Copyright and Lanham Act.

 

                                                                                    Very truly yours,

                                                                       

                                                                                    ALLEN I. TULLAR

 

AIT:kmb

 

cc:        Claudia Morf, Sr. V.P./CFO

            Amby Burfoot

            Paul A. McGinley, Esquire