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The Ongoing Battle Between Anonymity And Libel Online
from the which-is-more-important? dept
There's just something about being behind a keyboard and a screen that make people do nutty things, especially if they think that they're appearing to be anonymous. However, that can also run right into questions concerning libel. Over in the UK, where libel laws are much stricter than here in the US, it should come as little surprise that people who thought they were being anonymous are now being unmasked by those accusing them of libel. In one case, it was unveiled that the guy behind a website trashing a specific housing organization just so happened to run a competing housing organization. In another case, disgruntled fans of a UK football (soccer) team are having their identities handed over to the court for smearing the names of officials in charge of the club. At least in that case, the judge tried to limit whose names were being handed over, leaving out those whose statements "were merely 'abusive' or likely to be understood as jokes" alone to remain anonymous. Still, libel is increasingly a funny sort of crime in this world where everyone's a publisher and everyone has an opinion. Accusing someone of libel in court can often backfire, as it only calls that much more attention to the actions that led to the original claims. It seems that it's often better to simply respond to the false claims with proof that they're not true, and then leave people to make their own decisions.
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How do you prove anything?
Also, what do you do if someone posts embarrassing information that happens to be true? What if the person says your mother had an extramarital affair, etc.? Will it be so "funny" then?
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BTW John Edward (host of Crossing Over) really is a fucking douche bag piece of shit. If he had any ethics or a conscience he would shoot himself in the head right after he finished the last apology letter to all the people he has mind fucked with his bullshit little act.
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Re:
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The New Lawsuit
Even though Video Professor has over 600 complaints listed on the BBB, they claim they need these names and IP addresses so they can try to solve any disputes with these customers. Why didn't Video Professor try to solve them when they first complained?
The other new flavor of the month to try to stop complaints is to sue the site that posts these complaints on the grounds of copyright infringement because suing for libel is not working anymore.
Lawyers, go to your neutral corners then come out fighting!
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i believe nobody's anonymous online. just my thoughts. :)
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Of course, I don't think you can actually be sued for calling a group of people names our defaming their image - so lawyer ranting is OK!
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Excellent. I've been searching for a nice, concise description of him for some time. Thank you.
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Libel
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Re: Libel
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Back stabber ? Libel ?
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