23 Comments

I love this. When any one writer gets a bogus legal threat, it can be hard for them to fight it. But all writers - and the rest of us - have an interest in defending against such threats.

I’m glad that we are in a position to help, and I hope that by defending *very* vigorously in a few cases, we can contribute to a climate where writers fee they can fully exercise the crucial right to a free press.

Expand full comment

Quite a mind-blowing position in an age of people getting kicked off of platforms just for writing things that people disagree with.

Expand full comment

Would that include Alex Jones?

Expand full comment

If, for example, Project Veritas started up a Substack and met all your criteria, would Substack as a company, which has a documented history of supporting only far-left political causes while acting impartial, support Project Veritas in combatting any and all spurious legal claims raised against it? Recall that Project Veritas has documented bias against conservatives, and anyone not far-left, inside Silicon Valley monopolies like Facebook. (Substack aims to be the monopoly provider of paid newsletters.)

And when you describe “a high-powered lawyer representing a politician [who] threatened a Substack writer for his coverage of the lawmaker’s questionable business ties,” would you extend the same protections of this new program to anyone investigating Democratic “lawmakers”; Planned Parenthood; Black Lives Matter; or antifa?

Expand full comment

Guys, as an Italian Substack writer I feel left alone. Am I the only non American Substack writer? All the initiatives are targeted to Americans. I understand and accept it, but you should give a heavy sign that you take care also of the many writing from anywhere in the world. WE do need services and initatives also!!! Please, consider me for creating a European official branch of Substack, if needed to support all of us (non American).

Expand full comment

I'd work on this, too.

Expand full comment

Timely considering the state of our world. We have rights to speak & write. What happened to people in the BLM movement being hit with rubber bullets & worse for protesting, was frightening to watch. This is a democracy!

Expand full comment

This rules thank you 🙏

Expand full comment

I think this is a great idea to protect independent thinking and transparency. Great initiative!

Expand full comment

This is brilliant and much needed. Thank you.

Expand full comment

This is an innovative and well-considered benefit to writing on the substack platform.

Expand full comment

This has been one of my BIGGEST concerns transitioning from writing for a major newspaper network to my out outlet. THANKS SO MUCH! I think we already have our first lawsuit in the works after disclosing an Title IX investigation that was being swept under the rug here in Colorado with the local school district.

Expand full comment

As a targeted dissident author hoping to find refuge here , I have deep concerns about your lack of customer service and I see no protections for my media, which is being stolen, adulterated and used to defame me in any of your terms of service. Nobody at facebook has respond since Thursday. Responsible media companies of this nature respond within the hour. I suspect this company of apparent crusaders set up a spiffy automated cash stream for themselves and really don't do anything for the writers but cream our earnings. . What's your lawyer's name, please?

Expand full comment

Love it! Substack successfully setting itself apart from the competition once again!

Expand full comment

Fantastic. Hope you are ultimately able to expand the scheme beyond the US.

Expand full comment

Elliot Goe,

Las Vegas.

Former UNLV o actually went to jail for writing emails.

Can I be a special circumstance, as I don't have paying subscribers, and probably never will it's very hard to make money in Las Vegas.

ExquisiteProducts.Club

PRODUCTS.SellSome.Online

Expand full comment

I would love to participate more in terms of Writing after I have got arrived to USA.Now have to complete my assessment first Thank you very much.

Expand full comment

Makes me even more committed to growing here my work! I want to support those in the fight and that seems to be you too!

Expand full comment