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Blogger beware: Postings can lead to lawsuits
latimes.com ^
| August 23, 2010
| David G. Savage
Posted on 08/23/2010 6:59:59 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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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.
To: Franklin Wright
Opinions? Me?
2
posted on
08/23/2010 7:01:46 PM PDT
by
Nachum
(The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
To: Franklin Wright
Smart man you are, Franklin.
Everyone here should remember this.
3
posted on
08/23/2010 7:02:23 PM PDT
by
GOP_Lady
To: Franklin Wright
If I'm using my real name I'm more careful about what I say.Me too.
4
posted on
08/23/2010 7:04:55 PM PDT
by
Mr. Lucky
To: Franklin Wright
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.
5
posted on
08/23/2010 7:06:06 PM PDT
by
GISax
(Still waiting for the Iron Chef electric eel battle...)
To: Nachum
Honest opinions in an adult-like fashion (like you do, Nachum) = COOL.
Childish and ridiculous non-factual rants = NOT COOL.
6
posted on
08/23/2010 7:06:58 PM PDT
by
GOP_Lady
To: Franklin Wright
I only hope nobody ever finds out my real name is Teve Torbes.
To: Franklin Wright
""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.
8
posted on
08/23/2010 7:09:03 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
To: Franklin Wright
Don't sweat it. "Bite me, your Honor", is a quality defense.
Trust me. I'm on the Internet.
9
posted on
08/23/2010 7:09:19 PM PDT
by
Psycho_Bunny
(Hail To The Fail-In-Chief)
To: Franklin Wright
10
posted on
08/23/2010 7:09:49 PM PDT
by
earlJam
To: Lancey Howard
Steve, is that you?
11
posted on
08/23/2010 7:10:04 PM PDT
by
GOP_Lady
To: Franklin Wright
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.
12
posted on
08/23/2010 7:10:07 PM PDT
by
UCANSEE2
(The Last Boy Scout)
To: Franklin Wright
To: Franklin Wright
"...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,
14
posted on
08/23/2010 7:18:33 PM PDT
by
Diamond
(He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people,)
To: GOP_Lady
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.
15
posted on
08/23/2010 7:18:40 PM PDT
by
Nachum
(The complete Obama list at www.nachumlist.com)
To: UCANSEE2
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.
16
posted on
08/23/2010 7:20:03 PM PDT
by
rlmorel
(America: Why should a product be deemed a failure if you ignore assembly and operation instructions?)
To: Franklin Wright
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.
17
posted on
08/23/2010 7:23:34 PM PDT
by
Kansas58
To: GISax
You can always mask your IP address.
18
posted on
08/23/2010 7:27:32 PM PDT
by
Jack Hydrazine
(It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine!)
To: Franklin Wright
Pretty funny that is in the L.A. Times. Why can't you do what they do and print a "retraction"?
To: Nachum
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.
20
posted on
08/23/2010 7:29:14 PM PDT
by
eggman
(Journolist - All the news we choose to use and abuse.)
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