Legal threats against bloggers
I wrote a blog entry about an unusual problem I encountered, the steps taken to resolve it, and the obstacles I bypassed along the way.
Some obstacles involved a computer product by a non-Australian company, and I questioned the worth of this product, and the slowness of their support.
Well, soon afterwards, the customer calls me to say we have a problem. Apparently, the company in question didn’t like the negative aspects of the post, and would consider taking action if the post wasn’t removed.
I removed the post, re-edited it, so no company names were mentioned (or could be inferred), and posted the new “clean” version.
The customer is pleased, the local branch of the company is pleased, but she said that there was no way of knowing what action the overseas “head office” would take, and it would be better for me, if I also removed the “clean” version.
Now, if I someone posted something nice about Computer Aid, then good.
If someone posted something about a bad job that I had done (or a bad product I had sold/made), then, I probably deserve the bad rap, and I cop it sweet.
I would never consider threatening, or even asking the poster to remove their post. As far as I’m concerned, they are entitled to their opinion, and they should be free to express it (even it I don’t like it!).
Freedom of expression is a fundamental part of any democratic society.
So, I find myself in this analogy: I’m in a small car at traffic lights… the lights go green, and I’m just about to take off, when I notice a large Kenworth about to cross my path (ignoring his own red traffic light)… some people might go anyway (“but I had right of way”)… I say the kenworth has right of way… and one day, the driver will make a more fatal mistake.
Anyway, I pull the post, but I’m annoyed, angry, distressed, disappointed… I feel all sorts of emotions. I’m strongly tempted to just resurrect the original post as an F. you! gesture. But I have a family to support, and I don’t want the headache of legal rubbish on top of trying to build a good business.
I consider all sorts ways of anonymously posting something about this companies paranoid tactics… but you can’t be truly anonymous on the net. So I feel trapped and helpless… by a larger company that will not tolerate any form of criticism. I sincerely wish them the worst: bankruptcy.
That’s a disgrace.
If you can’t honestly review your problems
with a company or product.
I may have missed the post,but I’d
like to know so I can avoid them.
Sorry. I’d like to say, but I cannot.
You know as long as you can prove what you said is true and you are not out to get the company or have an axe to grind with the company you are perfectly within your rights to post whatever you said. Plus the legal costs of going after you overseas would be prohibitive to all but the largest companies. The only way they could go after you is if what you said could be proven as a false statement or one made with malicious intent. I truly doubt you did that. All the posts I’ve read that you have made would be perfectly fine. You could even put a disclaimer on your site that should cover you.
Thanks Leland.
I like the disclaimer idea. I’ll do it soon.
Occasionally, I will say things like “this is a really bad program” or “this company sold me an inferior widget”… its probably borderline “malicious intent”.
But with this post, there was no malicious intent… I just said things as I saw them: I found a way to fix a problem, I can’t see why a company would want to use d*****wall from C***ennial software (or s*****stix), but thats purely my opinion.
I was paid to remedy the problem… Does that entitle the company to try to stop me from publishing my findings and opinions? I don’t think so (but they do).