While retailers don't anticipate a widely profitable Black Friday, they're already rounding up the lawyers to threaten websites who publish pre-released sale prices for the day after Thanksgiving shopping stampede.
Consider Wal-Mart, which has already begun sending takedown notices demanding the online removal of their Black Friday ads. Wal-Mart and a host of other retailing concerns perform this act every year ahead of Black Friday.
Last year, Wal-Mart went even bigger, sending out letters warning websites not even to think about posting Black Friday advertisements ahead of schedule.
Wal-Mart is alleging copyright infringement and trade secret violations – which aren't likely to stand up in court if they even get there. Wal-Mart is also demanding targeted websites to disclose "how you came into possession of the information."
Expect an onslaught of similar notices with less than two weeks until Turkey Day.
Hot nod: Techdirt.
Photo: djlicious
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