You May Be Immune From Defamation on Your Blog

… based on the remarks of people leaving comments on your blog that is.  A California Supreme Court found that web publishers could not be found liable for comments left by others on their site.

The court, in a unanimous decision overturning a San Francisco appeals court ruling, said that those claiming defamation could sue only the original source of the disputed comments, not publishers or distributors, even if the distributor was an individual.

And to that I say — let the libelous trolling flame wars begin!

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  1. By Jessica Doyle posted on November 21, 2006 at 5:15 am
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    That is nice to hear.

    begin funny flame

    The first time I read your name on the Herald, I couldn’t stop thinking how Tony Hung is your porn name while only hiding behind that facade of a Doctor ;)

    Starring Dr. Tony Hung!
    with a special appearance of Nurse Nasty

    Watch, as he leaks heat from those flaming balls
    in the new ground-breaking movie
    LIBELOUS TROLLING FLAME WARS!

    Now playing on pornotubeDOT…

    end funny flame ;)

  2. By Tony Hung posted on November 21, 2006 at 1:23 pm
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    Oh Jessica, how droll. My goodness, I *never* got made fun of my last name at the all-boys school I attended in my younger days. ;)

  3. By Everton posted on November 21, 2006 at 3:34 pm
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    I’d still be careful as the law differs between countries. In the UK, someone was prosecuted for not removing a defamotory comment.

    http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2005/03/25/54/

  4. By Tony Hung posted on November 21, 2006 at 7:15 pm
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    Oh, sure Everton — thanks for pointing that out.

    ANd now, its made MSNBC
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15817955/

  5. By Darnell Clayton posted on November 21, 2006 at 7:43 pm
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    Good news for US citizens!

    As for traveling abroad, I would merely state that I’m on vacation “from my blog” while touring England.

    (it probably wouldn’t work, but it would land me on CNN)