That's an excellent post Kyle. I agree with you 100% and I really don't have much else to add. I read about this story on the web a few days ago and I have to say that it does sound like the site owner is not doing her best to control the content of that site. I know, this has already been said. But, knowing that, it seems she is definitely at fault to a certain extent and she better fix her site or this little legal issue will become a big legal issue.

As for everything else, I agree with Kyle.

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And if this case does go to court, and the site loses. that would mean that every man that has his name on the site would get some profit if the verdict was to pay something. i know thats how i got an insurance check, because someone sued the insurance company that i'm covererd on and they had to pay every customer.

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I came across a very similiar site to this one that had a Database of "cheaters" ... anyone could get an entry deleted -- for a fee.

I believe that the DB and the removal fee places the site I came across in a very different catagory than a simple forum where a user posted information that may or may not have been correct.

I think the site in question falls in between... its just a forum and they obviously get some leeway because of that but how much when they are not only targeting this audience but helping to facilitate the propogation of unverified and possibly even slanderous information.

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Well its only slander if its being spoken, so since its being typed and printed it would be considered libel. basically the same, but they are two different things.

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Man, I heard this story last year. Old news.

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Can you get sued if you organize public live forum and one of the speakers says something "bad" about one person

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That would have been a different story/website. This one was just in the news within the last week. I've heard similar stories before but not for this particular website.

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I'd say that would be good. Even if some of the allegations are true, people make mistakes, and the world doesn't need to know. This is the internet and everyday peoples everyday lives; not the electoral race.

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::Kyle Burrows
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This guy has no case. Section 230 of the CDA explicitly immunizes interactive content providers, including message board owners. That statute has been affirmed by every federal appellate court that has ruled on a Sec. 230 case. See, e.g., Zeran v. America Online, 129 F.3d 327 (4th Cir. 1997).

Unless the law changes (which it won't) message board owners are not going to be held liable for defamatory/libelous posts made by their members. The only way the owner would be liable here is if she made the post herself.

Actually, it was the same website... dontdatehimgirl.com. It came out in Texas News Channel. Last year. (december)

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