Stuttering John's Publicity Rights War on WATP and Shuli
"I'm not trying to silence them i'm just trying to shut them up." — Lucy (mocking Stuttering John)
The most significant ongoing legal drama in the Dabbleverse involves Stuttering John Melendez's lawsuit against Carl from Who Are These Podcasts and Shuli from the Shuli Network. John is suing based on the "right of publicity," claiming the creators are using his likeness without permission. The case has become a focal point for discussions on fair use, as Carl and Shuli argue their commentary and parody are protected forms of speech. This feud has simmered for years, with John frequently lashing out at what he calls "haters" who profit from mocking his podcast. The tension escalated recently when the case was moved to Monroe County, leading to rumors of legal teams reshuffling. Lucy points out that while the lawsuit is pending, John has allegedly been using DMCA strikes as a "separate legal weapon" to silence his critics. Lucy and Cardiff discussed how John has filed over 30 DMCA strikes against the Shuli Network alone. John's aggressive tactics are seen by many as a "reconnaissance mission" to obtain the real names and addresses of anonymous creators through the counter-notification process. Lucy mocked John's logic, noting that he claims to understand fair use but continues to strike content that is clearly transformative. The lawsuit is currently ongoing in Monroe County, with Lucy estimating it will be another month or two before public dates are set. Carl and Shuli have filed anti-SLAPP motions, arguing that the lawsuit is a bad-faith attempt to stifle their First Amendment rights. Meanwhile, John continues his nightly broadcasts, reportedly fueled by "eight beers" and a refusal to back down.