IP Democracy: Bloggers Not Immune from Libel Lawsuits

USA Today’s Laura Parker has this piece about the rise in libel lawsuits against bloggers. In the past two years, more than 50 lawsuits have been filed related to postings on blogs and message boards, which, until now, have been relatively immune from the legal attacks.

The lone blogger has traditionally been considered “judgment proof,” with no money worth going after in one of the most difficult kinds of lawsuits that can be brought. But the recent spate of suits center not on money as much as reputation. Indeed some of the cases cited — a man falsely accused of having herpes, for example — involve situations that seem out and out defamatory.

The best defense bloggers have against libel lawsuits is to bone up on the law.

Robert Cox, founder and president of the Media Bloggers Association, which has 1,000 members, says the recent wave of lawsuits means that bloggers should bone up on libel law. “It hasn’t happened yet, but soon, there will be a blogger who is successfully sued and who loses his home,” he says. “That will be the shot heard round the blogosphere.”

The best place to start is the EFF’s Legal Guide for Bloggers.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on October 4, 2006 7:29 AM to IP Democracy