The Star Tribune suggests as much in its own editorial. As the newspaper would have found from its own clips, the Devitt Award was started long before the West cases cited by the paper came before the U.S. Supreme Court, and it continues today, long after the cases have been resolved. If the issue is timing, it is the Star Tribune's timing that ought to be questioned. The answer won't sell many newspapers, for there is no murky conspiracy or unfounded allegation of improper influence. Make no mistake.
West welcomes competition.
In fact, since 1992, the number of competing providers of caselaw has increased from 65 to more than 190. West's two largest competitors are multibillion dollar, multinational conglomerates headquartered in foreign countries. The Star Tribune lamely states it has no intention of entering the legal publishing business, hoping its readers don't know and will not find out that West isn't just a caselaw publisher, but one of America's leading online business and professional information providers. The Star Tribune must not forget that aside from its competitive business ventures it remains a newspaper. The Star Tribune also has a duty to pursue its tasks in good faith.