Comments on: Who is responsible for blog comments http://hummingbird604.com/2009/11/25/who-is-responsible-for-blog-comments/ The random thoughts of a specialist in environmental issues. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:04:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kathleen Rake http://hummingbird604.com/2009/11/25/who-is-responsible-for-blog-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-6880 Kathleen Rake Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:52:40 +0000 http://hummingbird604.com/?p=5409#comment-6880 Here's how I understand it: if a blog owner leaves all comments to run as is, then there is no liability for, say, libel or false claims; however, the minute one starts to edit/censor comments (which I believe is different than posting or not posting comments), if something slips through that is libelous, for instance, then a real legal hell can break out. At least, in the U.S. I may not be 100% correct on this, but it was an issue addressed at the Wine Bloggers Conference I attended in Santa Rosa in July this year and that's how I understood it. My fellow wine lover, blogger, writer (and online mag publisher), David Honig is the lawyer who presented at WBC09. You can follow him on Twitter here: @PalatePress or visit the mag here: http://www.PalatePress.com Cheers, Kathleen Here’s how I understand it: if a blog owner leaves all comments to run as is, then there is no liability for, say, libel or false claims; however, the minute one starts to edit/censor comments (which I believe is different than posting or not posting comments), if something slips through that is libelous, for instance, then a real legal hell can break out. At least, in the U.S.

I may not be 100% correct on this, but it was an issue addressed at the Wine Bloggers Conference I attended in Santa Rosa in July this year and that’s how I understood it. My fellow wine lover, blogger, writer (and online mag publisher), David Honig is the lawyer who presented at WBC09. You can follow him on Twitter here: @PalatePress or visit the mag here: http://www.PalatePress.com

Cheers,

Kathleen

]]> By: Steven Forth http://hummingbird604.com/2009/11/25/who-is-responsible-for-blog-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-6879 Steven Forth Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:40:57 +0000 http://hummingbird604.com/?p=5409#comment-6879 And frankly, I get a sick pleasure reading comments from trolls and voting them down. The comments on the decision to dedicate a lane of the Burrard Bridge for cyclists were also intriguing. I think the way to do with these poisonus people is to let them air their views and expose them to social media. But I'm an optimist. And frankly, I get a sick pleasure reading comments from trolls and voting them down. The comments on the decision to dedicate a lane of the Burrard Bridge for cyclists were also intriguing. I think the way to do with these poisonus people is to let them air their views and expose them to social media. But I’m an optimist.

]]> By: Jodi http://hummingbird604.com/2009/11/25/who-is-responsible-for-blog-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-6878 Jodi Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:36:27 +0000 http://hummingbird604.com/?p=5409#comment-6878 Oh but the moment they started pruning comments, wouldn't somebody then run and say "cencorship?" Oh but the moment they started pruning comments, wouldn’t somebody then run and say “cencorship?”

]]> By: Paul Rickett http://hummingbird604.com/2009/11/25/who-is-responsible-for-blog-comments/comment-page-1/#comment-6876 Paul Rickett Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:39:04 +0000 http://hummingbird604.com/?p=5409#comment-6876 They do moderate letters sent in for publication in their traditional media outlets. But this is the brave new world... I'm sure CBC as a blog owner is no less responsible in the legal sense than you are as the owner of the blog - so comments that have potentially legal ramifications have to be monitored and moderated. Isn't the heart of the brave new world that everyone has the unfettered ability to state their own views? Yes, you can choose to moderate to your taste(s) as blog owner, but there is no law against bad taste. I don't see a double standard in this case. They do moderate letters sent in for publication in their traditional media outlets. But this is the brave new world…

I’m sure CBC as a blog owner is no less responsible in the legal sense than you are as the owner of the blog – so comments that have potentially legal ramifications have to be monitored and moderated.

Isn’t the heart of the brave new world that everyone has the unfettered ability to state their own views? Yes, you can choose to moderate to your taste(s) as blog owner, but there is no law against bad taste.

I don’t see a double standard in this case.

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