Say, for instance, I am upset about a situation with an individual who operates a business or service I paid for. In that case, I decided to discuss it (rather in details) on a blog. However, despite the fact that I may be discussing it online where others may discover such information, I have kept his identity and the identity of the business/company he represents anonymous. Would I be committing an illegal activity. Please let me know beforehand. Thank you.
2007-01-19 04:34:24 · 10 answers · asked by swtxgoodbai 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Thank you all for your comments. In response to some:
1). I have not signed any papers saying I will not discuss it.
2). I do not plan to uniquely identify the individual and/or his business/company.
3). I do not know what is considered to be slander and libel, but I have no intentions to damage their reputation; let alone using inappropriate words to deface the subject(s).
I am happy to receive more opinions.
2007-01-19 04:58:06 · update #1
4) I did communicate in good faith with the individual and/or company. Yet, I seem to be less satisfied the more I do so.
2007-01-19 04:59:23 · update #2
I don't think I understand what you're thinking is illegal? That doesn't sound illegal to me unless I read the question wrong or you're leaving something out.
2007-01-19 04:44:08 · answer #1 · answered by jus meeee :) 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slander and libel are two types of defamation. Slander is spoken and libel is printed/published. So assuming that your statements were defamatory, they would be considered libel.
However, truth is an absolute defense to slander/libel. If the statements are mere opinion, they are most likely not defamatory.
As long as you don't uniquely identify the business or individual in your blog. You're probably ok.
2007-01-19 10:56:27 · answer #2 · answered by Peter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you have not revealed the name of the business nor the person involved, it sounds fine.
However, make sure you haven't uniquely identified either without naming them. Example: "He works for a company that features a smiley face that cuts prices in their commercials" would uniquely identify WalMart.
Also, you are discussing your true experiences, so you aren't lying.
Have you also contacted this business and person and given them a chance to make things better, or give restitution?
2007-01-19 04:42:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the services and the business. If you were told not to talk about it and signed something, then i wouldn't do it. But if it was just a normal service (example: cell phone) i don't see why you couldn't talk about it on the Internet.
What is your purpose of posting the blog? If your service was not as promised, then you could probably get your money back. I would try to get your money back before posting things on the Internet.
2007-01-19 04:47:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. In fact, if his business is in the public domain, you can thrash it all you want. Word of mouth, good or bad, is how a business gets its reputation, so if you told two friends and they told two friends...get it?
Blog away and state the business' name. Just use a pseudonym for the person.
2007-01-19 04:47:03 · answer #5 · answered by Mike R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you walk a fine line here. similar cases have been won by plaintiffs seeking damages for defamation of character, slander, and libel.
2007-01-19 04:43:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
libel and slander are illegal.
so if you are commiting libel or slander it could be illegal.
if you are just honestly communicating what happened and your feelings it is probably not illegal.
2007-01-19 04:42:33 · answer #7 · answered by Sufi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i feel it is freedom of the press, or the freedom of speech
2007-01-19 04:45:15 · answer #8 · answered by dorothy u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it matters- but possibly.
2007-01-19 04:39:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, what could possibly be illegal about that?
2007-01-19 04:41:47 · answer #10 · answered by Bistro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋