The Internet: Bloggers Gain Libel Protection

Wired News via the Drudge Report ^ | Jun. 30, 2003 PT | Xeni Jardin

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last Tuesday that Web loggers, website operators and e-mail list editors can't be held responsible for libel for information they republish, extending crucial First Amendment protections to do-it-yourself online publishers.

Online free speech advocates praised the decision as a victory. The ruling effectively differentiates conventional news media, which can be sued relatively easily for libel, from certain forms of online communication such as moderated e-mail lists. One implication is that DIY publishers like bloggers cannot be sued as easily.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"Here, the court basically said that when it comes to Internet publication, you can edit, pick and choose, and still be protected," said Cohn.

Very interesting!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Have we got a topic on the Bump List for this?

OFFICIAL BUMP(TOPIC)LIST

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals covers the West portion of the United States.

How did this case that seem to have happened in North Carolina get out here?

[BOBTHENAILER]

Very interesting!

Very interesting indeed. Thanks for the flag to this.

[Carry_Okie]

This actually strikes me as a sensible ruling. That is originates in the Ninth Circuit makes me suspicious. The article doesn't state who wrote the majority opinion.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Isn't Free Republic nothing but a Giant Bloggers Paradise?

[The_Victor]

Isn't Free Republic nothing but a Giant Bloggers Paradise?

Indeed. I'm no lawyer, but this seems to contratict the ruling against FR in the suit brought by the LA LA Times, and the Washington Compost.

[Dog Gone]

It doesn't really contradict it, since one case involved libel and the other copyright protection. I see what you're saying, though, since it gives lip service to the practice of cutting and pasting text onto the internet.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Isn't Free Republic nothing but a Giant Bloggers Paradise?

Blogging paradise playground for the fire-breathing conservative tribal members to perform their ritual purification rites on the left.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

So we need to take up a collection and go after the LA Times and Washington Post on the infringement of our rights to discuss news articles with the full article in view !

We are Victims!

[BOBTHENAILER]

We are Victims!

Agreed, sign me up.

[xm177e2]

The court based its decision on a section of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, or the CDA. That section states, "... no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider."

Wasn't the lawsuit by the LAT/WaPost premised on the idea that FR was "publishing" their content? Could this decision be used to win back the right to post their articles?