February 2nd, 2006
Support Philly Future
From Karl Martino at Philly Future — corporations see blogs as media they can manipulate. If it happened to Karl, it can happen to any of us. Please blog about this and show your support:
Here goes a strike against grassroots (efforts without $6million dollar backer) civil journalism sites….
Without naming any names….
A user on our site published two stories related to an event that occured late last year.
There was a firm related to this event - one with ALOT of financial resources
and influence in our region.The event was a disasterous flop - so much so it was covered by our local mainstream media.
Our user posted his opinion about the event and linked and quoted mainstream news stories about it.
The firm has filed suit against a number of folks involved and against smaller members of our mainstream media.
The firm has threatened us to remove those posts - due to the damages
they are causing - or face consequences.We have a pro bono law team. It will cannot help us in case of lawsuit. It doesn’t think we’ve done anything - anything - wrong - but since we have no resources to fight - money that is - we should remove those posts and comply with that businesses wishes.
Only when backed by money and institution can an independent ward off
threats like this.If we blow this up on the web - some may come to help - but chances
are not - we are too small for that kind of rallying cry.
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Scott, I appreciate this, but we’ve removed the related posts on our lawyer’s suggestion.
That firm *still* might sue however. There were no guarantees in it’s threat to us - and it appears to others - it looks like a *number* of small, independent forums and blogs in the region did the same. I spoke to one personally last night.
All of us backed down under the threat - a very real one from what I understand. The person behind the firm has a history of taking folks to court.
I feel like we’ve swallowed our integrity just to live to fight another day.
Karl, have you contacted the EFF?
No I admit I haven’t. I admit to being… scared. That’s why I haven’t posted about this on my personal blog - or at Philly Future itself. We’re not a formalized LLC or non-profit yet (will be soon I hope) - so a lawsuit would directly hit my family. I’m kinda nervous about this being here actually. But since no names are mentioned - it’s probably safe - and this can serve as something educational for us and others. I will call the EFF directly. The fact that two blogs (at least) and one message forum (that I know of) has been intimidated into silence makes me want to fight - at the same time however - I got my family to worry about.
I’ve left the EFF a phone message. I’ll followup with an email later. It would be good to hear what they think of the matter.
While I haven’t talked about this here or at PF, it will be - at the very least - educational. Thank you Scott for opening the discussion.
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The threat of litigation is one of the major deterrents that I see to starting a CitJ site. Can anyone think of a list of guidelines for site editors and/or bloggers that would reduce the risk. The first that comes to mind is not to write anything illegal, defaming or libelous. Any ideas? Does such a list exist already?
– Michael
@Michael: Even the truth isn’t enough protection. Just look at Karl and how the threat of a SLAPP lawsuit has affected him.
Really, if that isn’t enough to convince people of the merits of the EFF, I don’t know what is.