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French Blogger Fined For Negative Restaurant Review
An anonymous reader sends an article about another case in which a business who received a negative review online decided to retaliate with legal complaints. In August of last year, a French food blogger posted a review of an Italian restaurant called Il Giardino. The restaurant owners responded with legal threats based on the claim that they lost business from search results which included the review. The blogger deleted the post, but that wasn't enough. She was brought to court, and a fine of €1,500 ($2,040) was imposed. She also had to pay court costs, which added another €1,000 ($1,360). The blogger said, "Recently several writers in France were sentenced in similar proceedings for defamation, invasion of privacy, and so on. ... I don't see the point of criticism if it's only positive. It's clear that online, people are suspicious of places that only get positive reviews."
But my mom said "if you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all". And it seems the courts agree with her.
So I want to stress that the road in front of their entrance is really tidy.
We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
Your comment sucks ;-)
Agreed, I was totally planning to take a plane to France to go dine in that restaurant, but now they've lost my business.
Don't write a court review.
This is not the sig you're looking for.
"Other then the terrible food, unexceptional wine list, rude and incompetent service, shocking prices, and unsanitary kitchen, this restaurant is without doubt the best place of its kind."
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.