CA Court: Message Boards Are Opinions, Not Facts

Masem writes: "According to this Newsbytes story, a CA appeals court has issued a ruling that says that typical messages posted to internet message boards can not be considered as libel or slander, as they inheritently are framed as opinions and not as statements of fact. The case stems from rather negative comments posted by defendants about a computer reseller company on the internet; the company sued for libelous comments; lower courts did initially rule for the company, but the appeals court has overturned this. While not every message posted in a public forum is safe, the court's decision seems to convey that unless the message is framed as a form of fact, then any message posted to a public internet forum should be considered as opinion, and thus cannot be considered as a libelous comment."

Comments

hehe...

[TechnoVooDooDaddy]

why am i suprised every time a court makes a ruling that makes sense?

seriously, good work there in CA...

Dangerous article -- chaning the line

[www.sorehands.com]

It must be read carefully. You have to keep in mind, that the ruling may change the line between fact and opinion, but not that much.

The analysis of fact and opinion has been based on context and content. This ruling recognizes the context portion or the analysis. And states that it being in that forum makes it as from a disgruntled stockholder as opposed to someone in "the know" or with authority.

Even on a web posting, libel can still be found.

Re:New disclaimer:

[Bonker]

+5 Funny, yes, but damned good advice all the same. Are you listening, Taco?

Changing the line to something like

"All comments are the opinions of the owner and not the property of Slashdot"

might just save you a world of grief down the line.