New Media Rights’ latest blog post for Forbes is all about defamation and what you should know before you decide to pursue a claim. Whether you own a business or have an active online presence, a hurtful statement can have disastrous and far-reaching effects. But just because someone said something mean doesn’t mean it’s illegal.
“Yes, it is true that our society places a significant value in freedom of speech, but there is a point, however, where statements normally protected under free speech cross into the realm of defamation. So the first step is recognizing what defamation looks like.”
The third part of the “Responsible Enforcement” series walks through the basic differences between defamation, libel, slander and false light, and outlines some key things to think about if or when defamation arises in your business or on your social media.
Defamation protects people from the harm that can occur from other people lying about them (both verbally and in writing). “Even though it is not fun for the parties involved, defamation cases tend to make pretty great news stories due to the salacious mudslinging.” So it is important to know how to handle these disputes in a way that helps protect your business model and preserve your company’s brand, or even your reputation.
You can read “Responsible Enforcement: How To Respond To Defamation Online Without Damaging Your Reputation” at Forbes.com. Check out other Forbes articles from New Media Rights here, including articles on topics like copyright, trademark, trade secrets, patents, music licenses, navigating a lawsuit (part 1 and 2), the importance of branding choices, and responsible enforcement of your rights (part 1 and 2).
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