Jun.19.2007 Bloggers being sued; I await Geico Caveman’s subpoena
Via the Big Lead, the Globe and Mail has an article from last week discussing a wave of lawsuits being levied against bloggers for various crimes against humanity, most frequently libel.
Ironically, some of those who sue bloggers for libel wind up compounding the problem by giving the blogs in question even more publicity.
This is sometimes known as the “Streisand Effect,” after an incident in which the singer tried to have photos of her house removed from a website, but only succeeded in getting more people to view them.
“It certainly feels like we’re seeing more of these cases, and it probably reflects the fact that there are more people blogging,” [University of Ottawa law professor Michael Geist] says. “And at the same time, people are increasingly realizing that blogs have an impact and that more people are reading them.”
Can’t say I disagree, per se, since I think being taken seriously comes with consequences as well as privileges. Like sure, I may be quoted on Slate.com and may be a respected opinion who’s beloved by all, envied by others, and despised by the liberal media (SUCH a rebel), but it comes with a price. The Globe and Mail is right though in saying that it means what you say is taken seriously now, and I will take note. I expect lawsuits from the following people:
–The Geico Caveman
–Chamique Holdsclaw
–The WNBA
–Iran
–Fat girls on MySpace
Oh God that’s just this past week. This is a humor site! Humor! I wear a clown nose while posting, for the love of God don’t sue.
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