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How The Oatmeal made FunnyJunk’s legal threats a laughing matter

In brief, then, The Oatmeal is a popular comic website currently being sued by FunnyJunk, another popular comic website. Inman has claimed that FunnyJunk effectively steals his work; FunnyJunk has claimed this amounts to defamation. The latter has now engaged trial attorney Charles Carreon, best known for his legal pursuit of sex.com, to seek $20,000 worth of damages. Internet mirth has ensued, although the humour has been heavily doused with legal disclaimers.

While all this may sound like an elaborate carry on, it is, allegedly, no joke. Nevertheless, Inman has decided to fight FunnyJunk on his own terms, drafting a hilarious letter of defiance, which can be viewed, pterodactyls and all on his blog. Inman has taken the decision that he will hand over $20,000, just not to FunnyJunk. Rather, he will crowdsource the money and donate it to the National Wildlife Federation and the American Cancer Society. Because, in Inman’s words, “BearLove Good, Cancer Bad” and “philanthropy trumps douchebaggery and greed”.

More than $140,000 raised for bears and against cancer in less than 24 hours. Quite impressive. The web really doesn’t like douchebaggery.