Sheboygan (WI) woman files landmark case over Web links (against police)

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=786584 | August 24, 2008 | JOHN DIEDRICH

[sbMKE]

Good stuff here - Sheboygan police retaliate against a woman who led a recall effort by issuing a cease and desist and trumping up criminal investigations against her. Over a simple web link to the police department's web site.

Her attorney is a former DA - Paul Bucher.

And the link in question: http://www.sheboyganpolice.com/

[sbMKE]

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=786584

[mainestategop]

Expect to see more of this happening if Obama gets elected.

[driftdiver]

“Expect to see more of this happening if Obama gets elected.”

naw, he’ll just declare non-govt websites to be unnecessary and order them shut down.

[Gomez]

I’d just use an .htaccess file to redirect people to zombo.com

[Southack]

Good stuff, yes...but not Breaking News.

[Glenn]

Expect to see more of this happening if Obama gets elected.

With McCain's penchant for CFR, I'm not so sure it wouldn't happen on either's watch.

[Admin Moderator]

Good stuff, yes...but not Breaking News.

I moved this to breaking news. A federal lawsuit regarding no links without permission could directly affect Free Republic.

[LooneyTick]

The police dept link should be public knowledge, I worked for a city and all web sites are open for perusal.

[cothrige]

I did a Google search for sheboygan police and the first site up was www.sheboyganpolice.com. Did the Police send a cease and desist to Google? And I certainly hope nobody is silly enough to give anybody the phone number for the Sheboygan Police. I would hate to see how they may react to that kind of craziness.

[Dengar01]

I moved this to breaking news. A federal lawsuit regarding no links without permission could directly affect Free Republic.

Big time...

[Gondring]

IIANM, they said that the way she put it on her website implied that it was authorized by the city.

Here's the website, I think.

[Gondring]

She evidently has a history of credit card fraud (relevance? that's for the reader to decide)--but I'm basing that on what's posted in links below.

Some other links that might be of interest... http://badgerblogger.com/?p=6158
http://www.citmedialaw.org/threats/city-sheboygan-v-reisinger

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Mayor Juan Perez is,,,,, The Snoid From Sheboygan!

[sbMKE]

I’m missing your point — I fail to see any situation in which the city can refuse to authorize for a link. What’s next, an unlisted phone number?

From my pov, Badgerblogger is a very respectable site. If that’s her, then they’re really pushing it.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Should be thrown out of court. A web site address is public, not private knowledge and their is no violation of rights nor damage if it is published on another site.

[Arkinsaw]

They should be glad I am not the judge. She wins, and those responsible for the city all go to classes on the Constitution.

[unixfox]

A government for the people or against the people?

You decide.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

When the police get mad and don’t know what to do, they do what they know best - arrest.

[TBP]

I see no basis on which any entity, especially a public entity, can legally stop anyone from linking to it.