Max:

I agree with everyone that has already said GET A Lawyer.

Another suggestion is to contact the OLGA people and anyone else that has gone up against these guys in the past. They may even recommend some firms that are already familiar with the HFA tactics. In my distant memory I seem to recall that one of the reasons the DT was moved from the Xerox site (It was at Xerox before wans't it?) was the threat of something like this happening. Does Dick recall what that was all about?

Also, are they concerned more with the database than the forum? I read that OLGA grew out of the Guitar TAB newsgroup, which is still active and where people still post TABS and lyrics. The OLGA site also is still worth visiting for information files etc. The database is just no longer available. I wish I knew more about the law.

Do we have a rough idea of the proportion of entries that are public domain in the data base? Don't answer that in a public forum.

Here is one last idea. Are the lyrics on their site only from their members? It might be worth if the more known Mudcatters check for their songs in HFAs files. IF they find some and did not give permission, or are not getting royalties. BINGO ! It would be really cool to find them in violation of their own rules.

JAB