Bloggers Immune From Suits Against Commenters

An anonymous reader writes "Suppose a commenter posts a libelous comment here at Slashdot. Can Slashdot and its owners be sued for defamation? A federal appeals court just held that no, they cannot. The court noted that a federal law was designed to ensure that 'within broad limits, message board operators would not be held responsible for the postings made by others on that board,' adding that, were the law otherwise, it would have an 'obvious chilling effect' on blogger speech."

Let's test it out....

[Mikachu]

Microsoft sells your soul to satan!

*runs*

Cool!

[Anonymous Coward]

Now I can clue everyone in that Taco uses Windows! :)

It's a bad thing!

[spun]

We need more chilling effects! Haven't you guys ever heard of global warming?

sue the makers of Pens

[Anonymous Coward]

I once wrote a slanderous piece about someone and they, knowing that I had no money, determined that the brand of pen that I wrote the document with (pre-computer) was Bic, then filed a lawsuit agains Bic corporation for supplying me with the tool I used for my slanderous remarks.

Note: The above did not really happen. It just served to make a (ball) point.

Re:Let's test it out....

[Harmonious Botch]

They can't sue GP. It's got to be FALSE information.

Scientology

[JamDonut]

Seeing as there is no reference to this previously, I vote that we reinstate the comments from this thread. [slashdot.org]

These people really get on my chimes. Our text is ours!

Re:Common sense

[The_Wilschon]

It's just common sense.

But it is also politics. The two are seen together about as often as whales are seen in deserts.

Re:Let's test it out....

[monopole]

There's going to be a problem with cat overpopulation then.

Re:Let's test it out....

[QRDeNameland]

I wholeheartedly agree that to say that "a certain congressman deserves 'two in the back of the head'" is offensive.

They ALL deserve two in the back of the head.

Satan: Sell your soul to me, not Microsoft

[Cope57]

Microsoft sells your soul to satan!

*runs*

A article I blogged from Humorix.org

Fake news written by James Baughn @ Humorix.org
from the where-do-you-want-to-go-today? dept.

HADES -- Faced with growing competition from Microsoft in the lucrative soul-buying market, the Prince of Darkness today unveiled a new advertising campaign hoping to lure in more customers and turn the tables on Bill Gates.

"The Novell-Microsoft deal was the final straw," Satan said during a press conference at his underground lair. "Novell should have sold their souls to me, not Microsoft. I can offer much greater rewards than some phony-baloney we-promise-not-to-sue covenant. Just look at The SCO Group: they sold their souls to Microsoft and what do they have to show for it now?"

The last few years have been very tough for Satan. "When I look at all of the suckers that have partnered with Microsoft, only to be stabbed in the back repeatedly, I can only shrug my horns," he lamented. "Those should be *my* customers! Between Microsoft and the Republican Party, the competition is eating me alive!"

During the last three quarters, earnings for Hades have plummeted 45%, causing one stock analyst to downgrade Hades (ticker symbol: HELL) from "Strong Buy" to "Exorcise From Your Portfolio Immediately." The added competition from Microsoft and others has caused the futures market for souls to skyrocket, cutting profit margins severely for Hades.

"Fire and brimstone ain't cheap," Satan growled. "I need cheap souls to perform the grunt work that keeps this place going."

Nevertheless, the Prince of Darkness hopes that the situation will improve thanks to an advertising blitz highlighting the advantages of selling out.

"Need cash now?" asks one TV commercial. "Don't mess with high-interest loans... we've got the solution to your money problems right here. In just fifteen minutes and with your signature in blood, you can have all of the money you need!"

Another spot proclaims, "You only have one soul -- sell it wisely. There's a reason The Devil has been the market leader for the last two millennia. We offer much better rewards than the competition. Don't delay, call Hades today! Minions are standing by."

Industry observers expressed mixed reactions at the news. "I'm glad that we're seeing such viable competition," said an analyst for the Blartner Group. "For centuries, mortals have faced the unpleasant challenge of trying to sell their souls in a buyer's market. All of that has changed now that Satan no longer has a stranglehold."

However, a rival pundit said, "This is terrible. It's bad enough that Satan represents pure evil, but now we have a corporation that is even worse! When will the insanity end?"

A slave... er, spokesperson for Microsoft was unavailable for comment at press time.

Sell Your Soul? [wordpress.com]

Re:Let's test it out....

[Skreems]

If you don't act offended at the behavior of others, how are you going to get that warm fuzzy feeling of superiority?

Damnit Damn it Damn it Man I want to be sued

[ImitationEnergy]

Looky here dude, I want to be sued. I've went to great lengths now for 4 straight YEARS trying to get sued. You can't take my Right to be Sued away from me. You think I'm KIDDING? You haven't read some of my posts and web pages > http://www.newpath4.com/sitemap.htm [newpath4.com] . I want the people to sue me so it pulls my arguments against them before a dang Judge and Jury. That's why they don't sue me, they know and are sore afraid. The Department of Energy knows it has worked 4 long years to suppress people hearing my air + steam engine really does work, really does produce its own power "on the fly" using gravity power to re-compress the air, with compressors replacing the car's springs & shocks. It isn't Perpetual Motion, it's Smart Motion using an Outside Power Source >>> GRAVITY-INERTIA. And the D.O.E. will not grant me my day in Court for Love or Money. Read my posts how I faxed the information straight to President Bush's White House fax machine, to him & Cheney and both their wives! That was back in the Fall of 2003, before I knew the White House was owned by Big Oil and Halliburton. I fought them in the NY Times trenches for two years over damn Global Warming, knowing all along paid bloggers were fighting with me to discredit me and my zero emissions powerhouse engines. That's Right. I have two such engines, two different systems.

And you don't hear about them outside my posts and web pages because the White House has control of the News Media by the b^lls. Neither Bush or Cheney nor all the King's Men want me testifying in a Court of Law or a Senate Hearing facing them and they damn well know it. I got News for SlashDotters and SlashDot. I can make the flying car engine with a few changes to my Millenial Dawn engine, and while the military fiddle farts around getting to the Moon by 2020 we can be there sipping tea.

And the White House knows that too. I didn't stutter... but apologies for the French. I've spent so much time time typing I actually got carpal tunnel in my left elbow so I'm a little ticked off. I can't do bench presses or any presses. I was already on disability so now I'm disabled all over again, again. Have a nice day but don't take my day in Court. It will come. I built it and it will come. Bush admitted Global Warming, and my day is coming. He knows he actively tried to suppress Public Knowledge about my engines. Not only is my day coming Mr. Bush, yours is coming also. Put that in your memoirs my friend. Riley step, Riley step, Riley step.

Re:Let's test it out....

[Citizen of Earth]

They ALL deserve two in the back of the head.

Sounds risky. Better to unload the whole clip.