badgerbag

If someone is threatening to sue you for defamation and libel, for something you said on your blog, please read this:

The EFF Guide to Bloggers' Rights

What are the elements of a defamation claim?
The elements that must be proved to establish defamation are:

1. a publication to one other than the person defamed;
2. a false statement of fact;
3. that is understood as
* a. being of and concerning the plaintiff; and
* b. tending to harm the reputation of plaintiff.
4. If the plaintiff is a public figure, he or she must also prove actual malice.

I don't think anyone has anything to worry about here. But if you are really worried, then you might try emailing the EFF at information@eff.org . They are very helpful.

http://www.eff.org/about/contact

The Chilling Effects Clearinghouse is another very useful site.

http://www.chillingeffects.org/

Do you know your online rights? Have you received a letter asking you to remove information from a Web site or to stop engaging in an activity? Are you concerned about liability for information that someone else posted to your online forum? If so, this site is for you.

Chilling Effects aims to help you understand the protections that the First Amendment and intellectual property laws give to your online activities. We are excited about the new opportunities the Internet offers individuals to express their views, parody politicians, celebrate their favorite movie stars, or criticize businesses. But we've noticed that not everyone feels the same way. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some individuals and corporations are using intellectual property and other laws to silence other online users. Chilling Effects encourages respect for intellectual property law, while frowning on its misuse to "chill" legitimate activity.

Please repost.