Thursday, June 26, 2003
Let The Mongering Begin
John Maltbie has a good summary of Batzel v. Smith (PDF), a new 9th Circuit decision limiting the libel liability and protecting the online speech rights of Web site managers. I'm still writing a brief and haven't had the chance to do more than skim the opinion, but Judge Gould's dissenting fears that the ruling "licenses professional rumor-mongers and gossip-hounds to spread false and hurtful information with impunity" are being widely reported. (Shouldn't that be "mongerers," by the way?)
I definitely will want to consider how this decision might bear on some of our panel's responses to Phil Wolff's questions, still in process. For now, more from:
- Reuters: "Court Limits Defamation Scope in Internet Case"
- Out-Law.com: "Defamation victory for web site and listserver operators"
- Ars Tecnica: "Starting vicious rumors over listservs ruled OK"
- c | net News.com (Declan McCullagh): "Libel ruling favors site operators"
- MSNBC: "Court limits scope on Net defamation"
posted by Denise at 11:21 AM
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