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Defamation and Social Media, Spring 2012

Defamation and Social Media, Spring 2012. Resources: Harvard’s Berkman Center http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/defamation EFF http://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal/liability/defamation. Defamation. Defamation required elements to prove:

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Defamation and Social Media, Spring 2012

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  1. Defamation and Social Media,Spring 2012 Resources: Harvard’s Berkman Center http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/defamation EFF http://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal/liability/defamation

  2. Defamation • Defamation required elements to prove: • False statement of fact about plaintiff by defendant • Publication - communicated to a third party • Damages the reputation of the plaintiff • Defamation forms • Oral: slander • Written: libel

  3. Defamation per se: • False statements involving these items are always actionable, proving harm to reputation is not required: • disease; • criminal actions; • misconduct related to profession or business; • sexual misconduct.

  4. Defenses, exceptions • Facts: defined as capable of being objectively verified. • The following don’t rise to the level of defamation: • Opinions (nbfew exceptions do exist though) • Using the preface “in my opinion” not enough • “merely” offensive statements • The “Dumb Ass” example in Vogel v. Felice • “… if the meaning conveyed cannot by its nature be proved false” • Hyperbole • Hustler v. Falwell

  5. Defamation and public figures • Public figure: celebrity, politician, public official • Examples: http://www.citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/examples-public-and-private-figures • In addition to the three requirements, plaintiff must prove that the defendant acted with actual malice • Knowing that it was false or with active disregard to statements truth. • Regular defamation tests merely for negligence • Reasonably prudent person, reasonable care • Ex. David Beckham’s $25 M suit against In Touch • http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/15/david-beckham-magazine-libel-judge • Please note, some people are “libel-proof”

  6. Celebrity Online Defamation examples • Kim Kardashian & the cookie diet • http://tinyurl.com/yjssrey • Follow-up analysis: http://writ.news.findlaw.com/hilden/20100104.html • Courtney Love • http://tinyurl.com/cgqerq • Update: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/courtney-love-settles-twitter-defamation-case/?emc=eta1 • Gossip sites: • Cincinnati Bengal cheerleader case • http://tinyurl.com/2uk3a2b

  7. Business Interests & Online Defamation • Apartment Mold: • http://consumerist.com/2010/01/twitter-defamation-lawsuit-dismissed.html • Unfavorable tweets against businesses: • Restaurant Yelps: http://nyti.ms/fII6iP • T & J Towing v. Kurtz, Facebook group: Kalamazoo Residents against T&J Towing • http://www.citmedialaw.org/blog/2010/tj-towing-v-kurtz-weve-got-court-documents • Update & what is S.L.A.P.P.? http://nyti.ms/d7C2so • “Worst car dealership in the world” • http://www.citmedialaw.org/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2009-12-04-Route%206%20Hyundai%20Demand.pdf • http://www.citmedialaw.org/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2009-12-19-Alascio%20Response.pdf • Doctors and online reviews: • http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/some-doctors-try-to-squelch-online-reviews/2011/11/29/gIQA2KQhYQ_story.html

  8. Reputation Management Services

  9. Misc. False Statements • Fib on Facebook? Law calls it criminal. • http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/11/17/fib-on-facebook-us-law-calls-it-criminal-critics-warn/ • Lying about military service • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bennett-l-gershman/stolen-valor-act_b_1279502.html

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