Since I’ve posted about this in a couple places, I figured I should also post it on Modblog. It’s been over a year since I last posted about BME being sued and we’re still deep in the thick of it. As it stands now, BME owes about 50k in legal fees and I’d really like to get some help to pay those bills down. If one day’s worth of visitors to Modblog donated a dollar, I’d have way more than enough to pay my legal fees and start the BME Legal Defense Fund that I’ve been working on but haven’t had a way to fund as of yet and buy a house, a car and retire (I am only slightly kidding but Modblog has A LOT of visitors).
Since BME can’t accept paypal or other similar payment processing sites, I’ve put up sets of sticker packs that you can buy to help support BME and contribute to it’s legal fees. Click here to get your fundraising sticker pack. Not only will you get to help support BME but you’ll get some limited edition stickers which unless you’ve been hoarding the stickers, they’re impossible to get.
I’ve set it up so there are 5 donation levels.
The levels available are:
Bronze – $20
Silver – $50
Titanium – $100
Gold – $500
Platinum – $1000
You can mix and match any donation level or add multiple quantities to get to the desired amount that you want to donate. Once we get out of this mess, I’ll be converting any left over legal funds to the BME Legal Defense Fund and start going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help. Before I can get that done, I need your help to put the final nails in this frivolous lawsuits coffin and give this guy what he deserves. When we win, if I’m awarded my legal fees, since he’s the one who brought this frivolous suit to begin with, I’ll be donating those funds to kick start the LDF.I’ll be leaving the sticker packs up as an easy way for people to continue to donate to the defense of Body Modification worldwide.
I will also be making a permanent Thank You page to those who donate and support BME. If you’re a business who has been profiting thanks to the free advertising you receive on BME, consider giving back to help us recover from this devastating and draining lawsuit. I know BME’s staff and I would really appreciate it. If you only want to donate and do not want the stickers sent out to you, please send us an email at BMEshop and let us know. If you want to donate anonymously and not be included on the public and prominent thank you page, please email us and let us know that as well.
I’ll be posting an update in the next couple of weeks as to where the lawsuit is at once I get the approval from my lawyer about what I’ve written up. For now though you can check this link from November of 2008!
Comments
69 responses to “Legal Defense Fundraising”
If the LDF was run by a volunteer group of administrators that were active in the body modification and or legal fields I would contribute directly to it.
I find it kind of misleading that on the LDF site it’s about supporting individuals and groups and the sticker packs that are being sold as connected are going to fund the BME defense which BME should be funding itself.
Sorry, but BMEzine.com LLC should be able to pay it’s own bills without having to skim off a supposed charity that doesn’t have a way to directly contribute (which also makes me very wary).
“Once we get out of this mess, I’ll be converting any left over legal funds to the BME Legal Defense Fund and start going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help.”
Rachel: I wasn’t walking about your current situation, im concerned with the fact that this is what you plan to do with the left over money. helping people who break the law consciously because they think it’s no big deal. i just find that sick. laws are their for a reason.
and BTW i pay to see the pictures on bme and bmevideo every single month. I will defiantly be cutting off my memberships though. I’d rather not support this site in any way at all anymore. And I will be encouraging my friends to do the same.
“Once we get out of this mess, I’ll be converting any left over legal funds to the BME Legal Defense Fund and start going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help.”
Rachel: I wasn’t walking about your current situation, im concerned with the fact that this is what you plan to do with the left over money. helping people who break the law consciously because they think it’s no big deal. i just find that sick. laws are their for a reason.
and BTW i pay to see the pictures on bme and bmevideo every single month. I will defiantly be cutting off my memberships though. I’d rather not support this site in any way at all anymore. And I will be encouraging my friends to do the same.
“Once we get out of this mess, I’ll be converting any left over legal funds to the BME Legal Defense Fund and start going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help.”
Rachel: I wasn’t walking about your current situation, im concerned with the fact that this is what you plan to do with the left over money. helping people who break the law consciously because they think it’s no big deal. i just find that sick. laws are their for a reason.
and BTW i pay to see the pictures on bme and bmevideo every single month. I will defiantly be cutting off my memberships though. I’d rather not support this site in any way at all anymore. And I will be encouraging my friends to do the same.
Jesus Christ, has modblog become nothing more than bickering back and forth at eachother?
Don’t feed the trolls, Rachel.
Jesus Christ, has modblog become nothing more than bickering back and forth at eachother?
Don’t feed the trolls, Rachel.
Jesus Christ, has modblog become nothing more than bickering back and forth at eachother?
Don’t feed the trolls, Rachel.
Krysstii, I’m really confused as to how you interpret “going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help.” as “helping people who break the law consciously because they think it’s no big deal.” There are PLENTY of totally legitimate shops and practitioners who are in legal trouble for reasons other then consciously breaking the law because they it’s no big deal that could really use the help. How is this any different then organizations that say raise money to help pay for legal issues involving animal or human rights? Sounds like you are drawing conclusions based on assumptions.
In agreement with Shannon, I do think such a fund would only work if the person/people in control of it exhibit extreme transparency.
That said, I’m not one to throw money or support to something I’m not sure I believe in. I want more then just a good idea. PETA sounds like a good idea, but with a little research I could find much more deserving organizations to support. I love the IDEA of the BME LDF but I’d like to see a more detailed mission statement before opening my check book. I’m not going to assume that the donation jar on the counter labeled “feed the children” means “feed starving homeless orphans” and not “feed the children who are too lazy to make a sammich when mom isn’t home”. I understand that everything has to start somewhere and sometimes a leap of faith is required. When you hand a homeless dude five bucks you take a leap of faith that he’s going to go to McDonald’s and not the liquor store. It helps if the homeless dude says “This is going to get me a shit ton on the dollar menu”. I want to believe that the LDF will only help causes I would support, but until I see that hobo walk through the golden arches it’s just a leap of faith.
Krysstii, I’m really confused as to how you interpret “going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help.” as “helping people who break the law consciously because they think it’s no big deal.” There are PLENTY of totally legitimate shops and practitioners who are in legal trouble for reasons other then consciously breaking the law because they it’s no big deal that could really use the help. How is this any different then organizations that say raise money to help pay for legal issues involving animal or human rights? Sounds like you are drawing conclusions based on assumptions.
In agreement with Shannon, I do think such a fund would only work if the person/people in control of it exhibit extreme transparency.
That said, I’m not one to throw money or support to something I’m not sure I believe in. I want more then just a good idea. PETA sounds like a good idea, but with a little research I could find much more deserving organizations to support. I love the IDEA of the BME LDF but I’d like to see a more detailed mission statement before opening my check book. I’m not going to assume that the donation jar on the counter labeled “feed the children” means “feed starving homeless orphans” and not “feed the children who are too lazy to make a sammich when mom isn’t home”. I understand that everything has to start somewhere and sometimes a leap of faith is required. When you hand a homeless dude five bucks you take a leap of faith that he’s going to go to McDonald’s and not the liquor store. It helps if the homeless dude says “This is going to get me a shit ton on the dollar menu”. I want to believe that the LDF will only help causes I would support, but until I see that hobo walk through the golden arches it’s just a leap of faith.
Krysstii, I’m really confused as to how you interpret “going after cities that are zoning shops out of business and helping out artists and practitioners around the world who need help.” as “helping people who break the law consciously because they think it’s no big deal.” There are PLENTY of totally legitimate shops and practitioners who are in legal trouble for reasons other then consciously breaking the law because they it’s no big deal that could really use the help. How is this any different then organizations that say raise money to help pay for legal issues involving animal or human rights? Sounds like you are drawing conclusions based on assumptions.
In agreement with Shannon, I do think such a fund would only work if the person/people in control of it exhibit extreme transparency.
That said, I’m not one to throw money or support to something I’m not sure I believe in. I want more then just a good idea. PETA sounds like a good idea, but with a little research I could find much more deserving organizations to support. I love the IDEA of the BME LDF but I’d like to see a more detailed mission statement before opening my check book. I’m not going to assume that the donation jar on the counter labeled “feed the children” means “feed starving homeless orphans” and not “feed the children who are too lazy to make a sammich when mom isn’t home”. I understand that everything has to start somewhere and sometimes a leap of faith is required. When you hand a homeless dude five bucks you take a leap of faith that he’s going to go to McDonald’s and not the liquor store. It helps if the homeless dude says “This is going to get me a shit ton on the dollar menu”. I want to believe that the LDF will only help causes I would support, but until I see that hobo walk through the golden arches it’s just a leap of faith.
Krysstii- Are you SERIOUS?
Essentially, what I’m getting from you, is its a BAD idea to help artists break their mould into doing something they love?
And if this is being the case, what the HELL are you doing on this website? Pretty much everything done on here is highly illegal in some places- but (usually :P) done by a professional, qualified and trained artist.
If you can’t support this, why not just, erm, leave? Its really not that difficult- there’s no need to kick up a stink.
And if you actually followed the case AT ALL you would know its NOT ACTUALLY a law suit over what the CONTENT is, but over the domain name.
/facepalm
Krysstii- Are you SERIOUS?
Essentially, what I’m getting from you, is its a BAD idea to help artists break their mould into doing something they love?
And if this is being the case, what the HELL are you doing on this website? Pretty much everything done on here is highly illegal in some places- but (usually :P) done by a professional, qualified and trained artist.
If you can’t support this, why not just, erm, leave? Its really not that difficult- there’s no need to kick up a stink.
And if you actually followed the case AT ALL you would know its NOT ACTUALLY a law suit over what the CONTENT is, but over the domain name.
/facepalm
Krysstii- Are you SERIOUS?
Essentially, what I’m getting from you, is its a BAD idea to help artists break their mould into doing something they love?
And if this is being the case, what the HELL are you doing on this website? Pretty much everything done on here is highly illegal in some places- but (usually :P) done by a professional, qualified and trained artist.
If you can’t support this, why not just, erm, leave? Its really not that difficult- there’s no need to kick up a stink.
And if you actually followed the case AT ALL you would know its NOT ACTUALLY a law suit over what the CONTENT is, but over the domain name.
/facepalm
Give BME back to its rightful owner and I’ll consider helping with this issue.
Until then, I’m afraid I can only see this as karma.
Give BME back to its rightful owner and I’ll consider helping with this issue.
Until then, I’m afraid I can only see this as karma.
Give BME back to its rightful owner and I’ll consider helping with this issue.
Until then, I’m afraid I can only see this as karma.
#20 (Valkyrie): That’s spot on. Thank you. I really think a properly set up and -equipped LDF would greatly benefit what BME is about and promoting – I personally know a few people in this community who just cannot afford to fight decisions against them and their businesses although they definitely would be thrown out in a (higher) court.
And you’re right about the leap of faith and the transparency – personally, I’d prefer the LDF to be set up in a sort of charitable trust way that’s overseen by a board of trustees, showing down to the dollar where your money went to (plus, donations would be tax-deductible).
#20 (Valkyrie): That’s spot on. Thank you. I really think a properly set up and -equipped LDF would greatly benefit what BME is about and promoting – I personally know a few people in this community who just cannot afford to fight decisions against them and their businesses although they definitely would be thrown out in a (higher) court.
And you’re right about the leap of faith and the transparency – personally, I’d prefer the LDF to be set up in a sort of charitable trust way that’s overseen by a board of trustees, showing down to the dollar where your money went to (plus, donations would be tax-deductible).
#20 (Valkyrie): That’s spot on. Thank you. I really think a properly set up and -equipped LDF would greatly benefit what BME is about and promoting – I personally know a few people in this community who just cannot afford to fight decisions against them and their businesses although they definitely would be thrown out in a (higher) court.
And you’re right about the leap of faith and the transparency – personally, I’d prefer the LDF to be set up in a sort of charitable trust way that’s overseen by a board of trustees, showing down to the dollar where your money went to (plus, donations would be tax-deductible).