Slashdot Mirror


CPA Googles For His Name, Sues Google For Libel

fbform writes "Mark Maughan, an accountant, searched Google for his name on March 25 2003 and found some 'alarming, false, misleading and injurious' information about himself and his firm. Therefore, he is now suing Google, Yahoo (which used Google as its search engine at the time), AOL (for using Google to enhance its search results) and Time Warner (because they're the same company as AOL) for libel. Specifically, his lawyer John Girardi believes that Google's PageRank algorithm takes known good information and twists its context when displaying search results."

46 of 619 comments (clear)

  1. In related news... by gregwbrooks · · Score: 5, Funny

    Googling for "litigious schmuck" now turns up a new entry...

    --


    "It was a summer's tale: Just a boy, his Linux, and a head full of dreams..."
    1. Re:In related news... by c1ay · · Score: 4, Funny
      Does Utah allow gay marriage? I think Mr. Maughan and Darl would make a happy couple, and as litigious schmucks they'd probably avoid divorce. Anyone got Mark Maughan's email address?

      --

    2. Re:In related news... by dtfinch · · Score: 5, Funny
    3. Re:In related news... by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny

      Here's some more alarming news for him: His computer is broadcasting an IP address! He should probably sue the Internet.

      --
      One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
    4. Re:In related news... by Repton · · Score: 2, Funny

      Funniest thing about that search --- underneath the GWB link is a Jimmy Carter link. Both are accompanied by a Google directory link.

      Jimmy Carter is under

      Society --> History

      George W. Bush is under

      Kids and Teens --> School Time
      :-)
      --
      Repton.
      They say that only an experienced wizard can do the tengu shuffle.
    5. Re:In related news... by JonnyRo88 · · Score: 2, Funny

      How in the world did you find this one. It's freaking awesome.

      --
      The Ro Factor - Jeep/Linux Weblog
    6. Re:In related news... by Ark42 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Wow. How did that happen?

      Here's the lucky link:
      http://www.google.com/search?q=bastards&btnI=I%27m +Feeling+Lucky

    7. Re:In related news... by Alex+Belits · · Score: 3, Funny

      "Darl is not acting in a manner befitting a moron"?

      I strongly disagree.

      --
      Contrary to the popular belief, there indeed is no God.
    8. Re:In related news... by netsharc · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes, even the morons don't want to be classified as the same with him. :)

      Alas, I've been modded a troll, oh well, Slashdot a place where you have to explicitly mention to the readers "It's a joke, son."

      --
      What time is it/will be over there? Check with my iPhone app!
  2. This begs the question... by Spytap · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...how much of it was true? ;)

    1. Re:This begs the question... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually, in the U.S. you can always sue. It's one of our rights as Americans. We can sue anybody for anything, any time, without provocation, reason or justification. Now, that doesn't mean we have the slightest chance of winning (or even avoiding having our case thrown out by a smart judge) but we can always sue.

      --
      The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  3. Let him sue Slashdot next by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey everybody, I heard that Mark Maughan once killed a man in Reno just to watch him die!

    He also has poor math skills and failed basic algebra twice.

    1. Re:Let him sue Slashdot next by davisk · · Score: 5, Funny

      I once saw Mark Maughan scissor kick Angela Lansbury!

    2. Re:Let him sue Slashdot next by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      And I heard Micheal Jackson, the pop star, can't have an orgasm unless he molests a boy! Just something I heard.

  4. Next thing he'll sue them for .... by billstewart · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... is censorship, because if they delete him from Google nobody can find him.

    --

    Bill Stewart
    New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
  5. You forgot Slashdot... by holzp · · Score: 2, Funny

    if his lawyer browses this at -1.

  6. In other news by gbrayut · · Score: 3, Funny

    Man sues white pages for listing his name and phone number. WTF!

  7. next up for SCO... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Suing Slashdot for the negative press on Darl McBride...

  8. Hey, Mark. Here's a lance. by SamTheButcher · · Score: 4, Funny

    Have fun tilting at that windmill, bub.

  9. did you? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    How many people searched for their names in google after reading this article?

  10. Good idea... by eniu!uine · · Score: 3, Funny

    "I think it should be manditory for people to know how things work before they can sue someone."

    Does this mean no one will be able to sue me if I write destructive code in perl?

  11. one, two by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    HAHAHAHAAHAHHAHAHA

    *catches breathe*

    HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

  12. Poor Mr. Maughan by Baldorg · · Score: 3, Funny

    People will now find out the horrible things he does to animals during his free time...

  13. Kill the messenger. by sittingbull · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh ya, kill the messenger (Google) after he dies of a heart attack to bring you the best information possible; that always works.

  14. Congratulations! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    You are the prize winner of being the first schmuck to post the "begs-the-question" pedanticry to slashdot!

    Yes, while countless millions go on with their lives being perfectly able to make the distinction between "circular argument" and "leading question", you are there in the forefront making sure that an insignificant badly worded phrase coined centuries ago shall continue to wreak confusion for years to come! Well done! Carry on!

    You know, your anal retentive obsession about "begs the question" really begs the question, do you really understand basic English? This is the question that I am begging.

    And gosh, did you know that I B.A'd in Logic? Fat lot of good that did me with guys like you around telling me how to speak.

    1. Re:Congratulations! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      " You are the prize winner of being the first schmuck to post the "begs-the-question" pedanticry to slashdot!"

      The word is "pedantry."

  15. Meanwhile... by Thedalek · · Score: 4, Funny

    Googling for my name reveals that, in addition to being an avid gamer, I apparantly played Greedo in Star Wars.

    Think I'll sue Lucas for not paying me.

    --
    Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
  16. obMicrosoft-conspiracy-theory by diamond0 · · Score: 2, Funny

    suppose Microsoft funded this guy too?

    --

    --
    There is no hatred more pure and true than that expressed by children.
  17. Re:Isn't page rank dead? by DRUNK_BEAR · · Score: 5, Funny

    You mean this technology I presume...

    --
    DrkBr
  18. Re:He knows he's not going to win. by Trespass · · Score: 3, Funny

    Yeah, but another computer illiterate boob might. Look at how many there are.

  19. When google gives wrong info me by randomwalker · · Score: 5, Funny

    When google gives wrong info on me(other people have same name), i just add their stuff to my resume.
    I gained a dance school and a few civil war books in my resume experiences.

  20. It's only right... by SmackCrackandPot · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's only right that Google should validate the truth of every one of the six billion pages indexed by their system. After all, eager minds want to know:

    Who really killed JFK, did Tammy really make out with Nick at the end of the high school prom, and whether UFO's, the Lock Ness Monster, bigfoot, black triangles and the chucacubra really exist or not. This could save so much effort and time wasted on speculation and controversy.

  21. Re:Oh the horror, oh the tragedy!!!! by KillerHamster · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or accountants, for that matter.

  22. Mirrors? by nadolph · · Score: 1, Funny

    I am waiting for someone to sue a mirror manufacturer for showing them thier ugly face.

    --
    With the moo and the cow and the fish. Minesweeper Record: 7 sec
  23. My mis-reading of headline by spook+brat · · Score: 2, Funny

    When I saw the headline I immediately thought, "why is the Coalition Provisional Authority suing anyone? I didn't think they had time or money for that..."

    Boy do I need to get out of Baghdad...

    --
    Travel the Galaxy! Meet fascinating life forms... ...and kill them - http://schlockmercenary.com
  24. oh no... big ol' mean google picking on you by im_not_jose · · Score: 2, Funny

    awwww.... boohoo poor old Mark Maughan. big ol' mean nasty google has narrowed down billions of people in this whole world just to put a few nasty search results under his name. shall we give him a group hug? i wonder if this is just another microsoft-backed conspiracy or if he's just an immature idiot... or perhaps even both. who knows? maybe he will try to sue slashdot next, because if you run his name under its search engine, a few nasty (and true) things may pop up. and the world goes kersplash.

  25. I'm suing a well-known geek website... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...for disparaging my character by claiming a total lack of bravery. If there are any others out there like me, we might be able to form a class action.

  26. Re:how about suing the site with the actual conten by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I hope this will teach people not to associate Mark Maughan with that page.

  27. Re:Anger.... Rising... by ScrewMaster · · Score: 3, Funny

    OK, so my plan isn't perfect. Can anyone suggest anything better?

    Tactical thermonuclear device.

    --
    The higher the technology, the sharper that two-edged sword.
  28. You know... by Guppy06 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If he was any good at what he did, he wouldn't need to sue Google for money.

  29. Slashdot Men of Genius... by Magus311X · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think it's about time Slashdot had something along this line:
    ----- -----

    Slashdot Men of Genius...
    Today we salute you, mister "begs-the-question".
    Mister begs-the-question!
    While millions can understand a basic phrase, you take the lead in misinterpreting everything.
    Cannot make a distinction!
    Your lack of logic ensures that phrases coined centuries ago will continue to wreak confusion for years come.
    A leader in confusion!
    You know, your anal retentive obsession about "begs the question" really begs the question, do you really understand basic English?
    This is the question I'm beggin'!
    And gosh, did you know that I B.A'd in Logic? Fat lot of good that did me with guys like you around telling me how to speak.
    Slashdot Men of Genius

    ----- -----

    1. Re:Slashdot Men of Genius... by markhb · · Score: 4, Funny

      You need an ending:

      So here's to you, Mister Begs-the-Question, and here's to that Strunk & White you have jammed up your ass.

      --
      Save Maine's economy: write stuff down. All comments are exclusively my own, not my employer.
  30. Yeah, well... by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Funny

    He's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Mark Maughan pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

  31. Well? by Guppy06 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Did you shoot first or didn't you?

  32. I Googled My Name by DietVanillaPepsi · · Score: 2, Funny
    Apparently, I'm a slut.



    The folks at General Hospital will be hearing from my attorney.

  33. More basis for lawsuits? by emilng · · Score: 2, Funny

    How about...

    mark_maughan.isgay.com

    or

    darl.isgay.com site.