From: Matthew Gaylor (freematt@coil.com)
Date: Tue Dec 12 2000 - 08:36:50 MST
KPJ <kpj@sics.se> wrote:
>Date: Mon, 11 Dec 2000 17:03:24 +0100
>From: KPJ <kpj@sics.se>
>Subject: Re: Freematt's Alerts
>
>|I don't intend to publish anything untrue or malicious. I think Brin
>|has made ample public statements that delineates exactly what he
>|believes. His views on increasing certain taxes and other odd views
>|aren't going to get a free ride, at least free me.
>
>In some parts of the world (e.g. Sweden) publishing a true fact can
>be slander.
It is nearly impossible to get a judgement for slander in the US-
Much easier in Britain and much of Europe. Being a public figure
makes it even harder- Take a look at humorous skits such as those on
Saturday Night Live-
If you deliberately spread patently false information about someone
that causes them damage you could be in trouble.
The Post reports that a jury awarded a doctor $675,000 in the the
"first libel verdict based on an anonymous Internet message."
Somebody posted on Yahoo that a M.D. was taking kick backs in some
medical research program. That person was later identified and sued.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52894-2000Dec10.html
<scroll half way down>
Commenting on the publicly distributed opinions of a public figure in
the USA, doesn't qualify as libel or slander.
Regards, Matt-
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