Blogger beware: Postings can lead to lawsuits

latimes.com ^ | August 23, 2010 | David G. Savage

[Franklin Wright]

The Internet has allowed tens of millions of Americans to be published writers. But it also has led to a surge in lawsuits from those who say they were hurt, defamed or threatened by what they read, according to groups that track media lawsuits.

"It was probably inevitable, but we have seen a steady growth in litigation over content on the Internet," said Sandra Baron, executive director of the Media Law Resource Center in New York.

Although bloggers may have a free-speech right to say what they want online, courts have found that they are not protected from being sued for their comments, even if they are posted anonymously.

Some postings have even led to criminal charges.

[Franklin Wright]

This is one of the reasons I recently took on a new FR name. If I'm using my real name I'm more careful about what I say.

[Nachum]

Opinions? Me?

[GOP_Lady]

Smart man you are, Franklin.

Everyone here should remember this.

[Mr. Lucky]

If I'm using my real name I'm more careful about what I say.

Me too.

[GISax]

It will make it harder to identify you but a determined lawyer can subopena your IP address and link comments back to you. Its time consuming but possible.

[GOP_Lady]

Honest opinions in an adult-like fashion (like you do, Nachum) = COOL.

Childish and ridiculous non-factual rants = NOT COOL.

[Lancey Howard]

I only hope nobody ever finds out my real name is Teve Torbes.

[Paladin2]

""The first thing people need to realize, they can be held accountable for what they say online," Baron said. "Before you speak ill of anyone online, you should think hard before pressing the 'send' button."

david.savage@latimes.com"

The LA Times is a bite-me organization.

Besides we don't have a send button.

[Psycho_Bunny]

Don't sweat it. "Bite me, your Honor", is a quality defense.

Trust me. I'm on the Internet.

[earlJam]

bump 4l8r

[GOP_Lady]

Steve, is that you?

[UCANSEE2]

Doesn’t matter to me, if anyone knows ‘who’ I am. Wouldn’t change what I say.

I have always assumed that if it became of enough importance to some one, there are ways for them to find out who I am anyway.

[Tench_Coxe]

“John Hancock was here”

[Diamond]

"...those who say they were hurt, defamed or threatened by what they read, according to groups that track media lawsuits."

I was hurt, defamed or threatened by reading this article.

Cordially,

[Nachum]

This article could be a calculated measure on dissent. It sort of fits a pattern.

I believe we will see if it might be true if it is amplified over the next few days. It could well be the response to the heat the administration is feeling. A feeler, if you will, to see if they can use this prior the election.

Kind of like the thugs at the polling booth- only on the blogosphere. The intelligence community and psy ops comes to mind.

[rlmorel]

I’m with you on that. As a rule, I try not to say anything to anyone on here that I wouldn’t say to their face or have posted on a board. I don’t always meet that standard, but I try.

[Kansas58]

I am on the local, Wichita Eagle Blog, all of the time.

I have changed my nic name a few times. (I used to go by “Franklin” by the way, lol)

Anyway, my writing style is hard to cover up or hide. The libs figure out who I am pretty fast.

However, THEY are the ones who should worry about legal action, the stuff they say about me is really fowl.

[Jack Hydrazine]

You can always mask your IP address.

[cruise_missile]

Pretty funny that is in the L.A. Times. Why can't you do what they do and print a "retraction"?

[eggman]

Based on the standard the left used for writing about Sarah Palin, as long as you are attacking a public figure, it's pretty much anything goes.