Libel lawsuits continue

In another story about online gossip and those who get offended by it, I saw a headline that shows another person who has turned to the court system to stop the spread of internet libel. See Colorado Man Charged With Libel Over Craigslist Posts. I find this story particularly interesting in light of a recent comment posted in response to one of my former television stories. Personally, I don't find it offensive but rather funny given the unnecessary use of profanity. See Eli Stone Write-Up comment number 5.

I'm beginning to think there are more subtle differences to anonymity on the internet than the founders actually considered when they blessed the freedom of speech in the Bill of Rights. Will this turn into another evolving standard? If only suits like the Juicy Campus one would survive a little longer for some interesting legal commentary. See also The Great E-Barrier Reef. But then again, with cases like the Myspace suicide one filling the news, it's sufficient to say that the area of first amendment law and its intersection with the internet will continue to provide news for many years to come.

Tags: internet free speech