Submission + - Should Internet forums be liable for defamation (team-bhp.com)
tanveer1979 writes: "The story itself is pretty mundane. User buys car, is conned at some point. This has happened to many, and thousands of forums all over the internet have such complaints.
Often the user goes to courts, but along with that also goes to various internet forums, and posts his/her grievance for all to see. Lot of people reply, and there are many comments, like "Boycott" etc., etc. This could have been a simple story, user unhappy with Skoda, user posts thread. This thread could have been like those countless threads. Skoda could have kept quiet, life would have gone on.
However someone, somewhere in the corporate ladder thought this should stop, and they should threaten. So in come the big guns and the lawyers, and put up a threatening post. So what happens then. Everybody cows down? Obviously Skoda India had never heard of Streisand effect and trouble starts. The Forum refuses to bow down, and a new thread is created dedicated to this thread. In just a few days it has 86000+ views. and the first results on google for Skoda India point to this blunder. Other forums also link to the same article, because the question is very relevant. Its the freedom of expression of a dis grunted customer which is at stake. What do slashdotters think? Does a company has the moral right to threaten a customer who posts a negative review. Legally corporations have enough muscle to do as they please, and the whole episode shows that you should never underestimate the power of the internet."
Often the user goes to courts, but along with that also goes to various internet forums, and posts his/her grievance for all to see. Lot of people reply, and there are many comments, like "Boycott" etc., etc. This could have been a simple story, user unhappy with Skoda, user posts thread. This thread could have been like those countless threads. Skoda could have kept quiet, life would have gone on.
However someone, somewhere in the corporate ladder thought this should stop, and they should threaten. So in come the big guns and the lawyers, and put up a threatening post. So what happens then. Everybody cows down? Obviously Skoda India had never heard of Streisand effect and trouble starts. The Forum refuses to bow down, and a new thread is created dedicated to this thread. In just a few days it has 86000+ views. and the first results on google for Skoda India point to this blunder. Other forums also link to the same article, because the question is very relevant. Its the freedom of expression of a dis grunted customer which is at stake. What do slashdotters think? Does a company has the moral right to threaten a customer who posts a negative review. Legally corporations have enough muscle to do as they please, and the whole episode shows that you should never underestimate the power of the internet."