zyrorl - Slashdot User

Submission + - Software Company sues Whirlpool Forum operator

Submitted by von Stalhein on Wednesday September 12, 2007 @04:32AM

von Stalhein writes: Whirlpool founder Simon Wright is being sued by accounting software firm 2Clix Australia Pty Ltd for alleged "injurious falsehood". The Statement of Claim from the company alleges that Simon Wright allowed statements "relating to the Plaintiff and its software product that are both false and malicious" to be published on the Whirlpool forums. 2Clix is suing for at least $150,000 (plus costs), and is demanding that two forum threads be removed from the site. This case has ramifications for anybody that runs a forum where posters might give their opinion on a company/service/product. Australians don't have a right of free speech enshrined in our Constitution, and this case could set a nasty precedent. I hope it either never gets to court, or is lost (badly!). Original situation is here — http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/479484.html

Submission + - 2clix vs Whirlpool Founder - Simon Wright (whirlpool.net.au)

Submitted by on Wednesday September 12, 2007 @04:01AM

An anonymous reader writes: "Whirlpool founder Simon Wright is being sued by accounting software firm 2Clix Australia Pty Ltd (ACN 118 044 198) for alleged "injurious falsehood". The Statement of Claim from the company alleges that Simon Wright allowed statements "relating to the Plaintiff and its software product that are both false and malicious" to be published on the Whirlpool forums. 2Clix is suing for at least $150,000 (plus costs), and is demanding that two forum threads be removed from the site. Whirlpool believes the action has no merit and will defend the matter vigorously, despite being a community website with little resources."

Link: http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1753

Submission + - Software developer sues to mute forum users (whirlpool.net.au) 1

Submitted by

Whirlpool User

on Wednesday September 12, 2007 @01:52AM

Whirlpool User writes: "An Australian accounting software developer blames a 'severe downturn in sales' on people who bad-mouthed its products in online user forums. It wants a judge to muzzle their comments. http://whirlpool.net.au/article.cfm/1753"

Submission + - Whirlpool sued for criticism (smh.com.au)

Submitted by ssinct on Wednesday September 12, 2007 @12:28AM

ssinct writes: Popular Australian broadband news and discussion site, Whirlpool, is being sued by 2Clix, for AUD$150,000 over "injurious falsehood", in relation to critical forum threads posted regarding deficiencies in the company's accounting software. The EFF, and local legal experts are up in arms over 2clix's move.

Submission + - Whirlpool Founder Sued By Software Manufacturer

Submitted by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 12, 2007 @12:26AM

An anonymous reader writes: The founder of Whirlpool, an Australian forum for broadband and internet discussion, with nearly 190,000 registered users, is being sued by an accounting software company that had their software bagged out by users commenting on the forum. This type of litigation seems to happen a bit in the US, but it's all new for Australia. The papers were apparently served last night, and it's all over the media Down Under this morning. This looks as though it's going to be a huge bunfight that is going to have its every move covered by the media here. And the ramifications if Whirlpool lose this case are enormous for Australian internet users.

Submission + - Software companies sues popular Australian forum (whirlpool.net.au) 3

Submitted by Pugzly on Tuesday September 11, 2007 @07:25AM

Pugzly writes: In a recent announcement on the Whirlpool front page, it appears that accounting software maker 2clix is sueing the founder of the forums as the founder "allowed statements 'relating to the Plaintiff and its software product that are both false and malicious' to be published on the Whirlpool forums."
Hopefully sanity will prevail, but it is the legal system...

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