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Software Company Sues Popular Australian Forum

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i'd-like-to-sue-a-bar-where-someone-was-mean-to-me dept.

Pugzly writes "In a recent announcement on the Whirlpool front page, it appears that accounting software maker 2clix is suing the founder of the forums as the founder "allowed statements 'relating to the Plaintiff and its software product that are both false and malicious' to be published on the Whirlpool forums."

12 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Congress provided a shield for this by simong · · Score: 4, Funny

    Congressional law doesn't apply in Australia. Or anywhere else apart from the USA. Just thought I'd remind you.

  2. Thread Links by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Links to the threads in question:

    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=628356
    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=479484

  3. It happens by clickclickdrone · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I had someone make derogotory comments about some training firm on one of my sites and said firm emailed to ask we pulled the comment otherwise they might need to get legal on us. We pulled it. The firm were fairly reasonable about the whole thing given it took a week or so (ahem, the admin for the forum section had forgotton his pw).
    There was no real reason not to comply - it was a silly comment with nothing to back it up, from memory 'anyone know a good IT trainer? I tried xxx but they were crap and tried to fleece me out of more money'.
    Wouldn't have minded but when I looked it up, it had been there 3 years.

    --
    I want a list of atrocities done in your name - Recoil
    1. Re:It happens by davidmwilliams · · Score: 5, Informative

      One of the many flaws in 2Clix is that you get an unhandled division by zero exception when reprinting payslips if a certain non-mandatory field is zero or empty. Now, surely division by zero is the most basic and fundamental example of error handling used in any programming course or book or tutorial or other. To my mind, 2Clix are receiving negative criticisms for having software which is poorly-written and unreliable in its behaviour and outputs. To then attempt to silence critics by demanding censorship of unpalatable comments is nothing short of arrogant, bullying and reprehensible. I can barely imagine 2Clix or its lawyer considered how massive and widespread the publicity would become! People worldwide now know of this tiny accounting software package - and not for good reasons. Whirlpool.net.au is a well-respected forum, frequented by many IT professionals and decision-makers. I think 2Clix will find that Simon Wright has far more credibility and supporters than they do.

    2. Re:It happens by PJ1216 · · Score: 4, Funny

      way to go. now 2clix is gonna sue slashdot.org. i hear they're planning on suing the internet too.

  4. Re:Congress provided a shield for this by simong · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Actually, with Australia's history of ill-considered legislation over the Internet, expect forums to be made illegal in the next six months.

  5. Now I Will Remember 2clix by GaryPatterson · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I'd never heard of them before, but now I have. I now know that they're overly sensitive to criticism and resort to litigation as a way of resolving complaints.

    I'll be certain to avoid them in future and recommend against such a dangerous company if ever I get the chance.

    Thanks 2clix, you've revealed your true colours.

    (I'm an Australian, living in Melbourne)

  6. Australian Defamation Laws by Hellsbells · · Score: 5, Informative

    Australian Defamation Laws are ridiculously powerful.

    A failed restaurant recently successfully sued a major newspaper for a negative review in the Australian High Court.

    1. Re:Australian Defamation Laws by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 4, Funny

      Australian Defamation Laws are ridiculously powerful.

      BUZZZZZZZZZZZT! Defamation alert! Lawsuit!

  7. My real fear about this issue by smegged · · Score: 5, Informative
    I am very concerned about this lawsuit. There are two very real outcomes that could occur should whirlpool lose.
    • Firstly, whirlpool are THE resource for finding out about ISPs in Australia. Their neutrality and open forums, should they be lost, would be very, very bad for consumers.
    • Secondly, a ruling against whirlpool means a precedent would be set which basically ensured that forums in Australia would be practically eliminated. This is both bad for a lot of businesses and bad for users.
    For these reasons I really really hope that whirlpool wins (well, for those reasons and the obvious moral reasons).
  8. I'll take bullies for 200, Alex. by Anne_Nonymous · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is it true that 2clix eats puppies and kittens for breakfast?

  9. This is what probably caused the action... by Col+Bat+Guano · · Score: 4, Interesting
    http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=628356&r=12820406#r12820406

    The forum thread had been running for many months, but in late August there was some real action starting to occur on getting information for legal action against 2clix.

    My guess is that they would like to shut the thread down and prevent more people from getting involved in suing them.