Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

[Paradox]

Just a bit of general knowledge, as above really.

Can those that own/run forums, such as this one etc be sued for libel if one of their users says something libellous?

Just for my own research really, not trying to sue anyone or anything

[Delta]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

I think they can get away with it if they have one of those disclaimer thingies on the bottom of the pages, saying summat like the opinions expressed are not the opinions of the site admin etc etc

[Delta]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

summat like this......

Although the administrators and moderators of this Bulletin Board will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages.
All messages express the views of the poster, and neither XXXXXXXX nor XXXXXXXXX will be held responsible for the content of any message.
We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message.
If you find a message objectionable, please contact us and inform us of the problem or use the [report] function next to the offending post.
Any message that does not conform with the policy of this service will be edited or removed with immediate effect.

[Guest]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

Take a look here.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology.../news.blogging

[StoneLaughter]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

That's all very interesting but if Legal Beagles received a Court Order which required them to reveal my identity, what could they reveal?

All they would have is my email address and the IP Address I was using when I posted - the site are not even aware of my surname! Never mind my address, date of birth etc.

So I don't think that a Court Order would necessarily help the plaintiff much...

[Happyolddog]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

That's all very interesting but if Legal Beagles received a Court Order which required them to reveal my identity, what could they reveal?

All they would have is my email address and the IP Address I was using when I posted - the site are not even aware of my surname! Never mind my address, date of birth etc.

So I don't think that a Court Order would necessarily help the plaintiff much...

They have my full name, most know my address, some know my phone number.............I better keep my big gob shut:shush:

oh best wishes,
Hod...Liam..

[Guest]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

That's all very interesting but if Legal Beagles received a Court Order which required them to reveal my identity, what could they reveal?

All they would have is my email address and the IP Address I was using when I posted - the site are not even aware of my surname! Never mind my address, date of birth etc.

So I don't think that a Court Order would necessarily help the plaintiff much...

That's not strictly accurate is it?

[Paule]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

All they would have is my email address and the IP Address I was using when I posted - the site are not even aware of my surname! Never mind my address, date of birth etc.

From a basic IP address and general knowledge, It can be quite easy to find peoples Full name, address with little effort using simple online tools, even when people are using proxy servers.

If you are a specialist in this field, as I presume they would be used in such a case,then it would be childs play for them to get your info, from details in the public domain.

[Paradox]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

Would you like me to prove to you that it's very easy to find out peoples personal details Tom? Even if you don't know someones details it's easy to find stuff.

[StoneLaughter]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

Go on then - it's an interesting exercise. However; if a court order compelled you to reveal my identity, are you obliged to do the necessary research? Or could you not just say "Here are the details we have - IP, email address".

Find out as much as you can, then, from this IP address I'm using now...

[StoneLaughter]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

That's not strictly accurate is it?

Which bit?

[Paradox]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

You have PM stonelaughter.

[StoneLaughter]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

I don;t have any information from the forum, apart from your user ID. I don;t have access to anything like that.

OK, so you found my website, which means you found my CV. Not hard seeing as my website is linked off my blog which is linked in my profile.

But again I ask - if Legal Beagles were asked by a Court to identify me, I believe that they would simply give the information which was held on their servers - they would not be at liberty to divulge information which was held elsewhere which may or may not relate to me.

[Guest]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

I know your name, address, postcode, telephone number and even how many 'O' levels you got, need anything else?

[Paradox]

Re: Can Forum owners be sued for their users comments?

You can't really find a great deal out from an IP address, especially as it's renewed everytime you reset your router. However, if a court was ordering the disclosure of your identity, it wouldn't be hard for them to find you would it now. Or anyone else for that matter.

It'd actually be pretty easy to steal your identity with the information I've found this morning. I'd have a think about what information you actually keep online if I were you.