Cooks Source and Judith Griggs -- but Honestly, the Internet Fights Back

The power of social media has once again taken an obscure event and translated it into an Internet firestorm.

Livejournal blogger Monica Gaudio posted a tale of having one of her Internet articles printed in a New England food magazine called Cooks Source. When Gaudio wrote and asked for an apology and a donation to the Columbia School of Journalism, editor Judith Griggs responded with the e-mail blurb read around the world: "But honestly Monica, the web is considered public domain." Freelance writers and others descended upon the Cooks Source Facebook page and unleashed the power of an angry Internet.

Other recent cases of social networking have taken small situations and turned them into Internet sensations.

Clint McCance - The "Face of Hate"

In October, a school board member in Arkansas posted an anti-gay diatribe on his Facebook wall in response to the Spirit Day Campaign in support of LGBTQ youth in the wake of recent suicides. A Facebook friend took a screenshot and sent it to The Advocate, and the outrage began.

School administrators in Midland, Arkansas, as well as the State Board of Education were inundated with phone calls and e-mails demanding the firing of McCance. His personal information, such as home and business addresses and phone numbers, was posted on Facebook, and McCance sent his family out of state for their protection. In less than a week, McCance had apologized "for his choice of words" and resigned from his elected position as a school board member.

Jessi Slaughter - You Dun Goofed

The Internet turned on an 11-year old Florida girl and made her cry while her father ranted "I back traced it" and other meme-worthy phrases.

Jessi Slaughter posted a video of herself ranting against all of her "haters" and stating "I'll pop a glock in your mouth and make a brain slushy." The infamous 4chan website caught word of the video and the torment was on. The family's address and phone number were posted, pizzas were delivered to their house and Good Morning America interviewed the family.

Cigar Guy Tiger Woods - Photoshop Meme

An incredible photo of Tiger Woods shooting a ball straight at the camera of the UK's Daily Mail photographer went viral - and not because of Woods' shot.

The attention is focused on a man standing behind Woods with a cigar in his mouth and a rather cheesy mustache. While he was paying tribute to Spanish golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez, 30-year-old Londoner Rupesh Shingadia was not mugging for the camera.

Cigar Guy has been Photoshopped in scores of iconic and historical photos and spread throughout the Internet.

While each of these brief Internet phenomena cause an immediate world-wide stir, the Judith Griggs/Cooks Source debacle might not end with the "apology" posted on the magazine's website. Allegations of copyright infringement of recipes and photos owned by such big hitters as Disney, Paula Deen, NPR and Food Network could lead to the demise of the formerly little-known magazine.

The statutory damages for copyright infringement can range from $750 up to $30,000. In the event of willful violation of copyright, a court can increase the damages awarded to $150,000.

Sources: Clint McCance - The Face of Hate ; Anderson Cooper 360 ; GMA ; Daily Mail ; Tampa Bay.com ;
US Copyright Law