Freedom of speech...on the internet. Some advice would be nice?

N

Neo

New member
Hi all,

I'm about to start a small website doing something that I've been interested in doing for a VERY long time. I don't want to give my idea away, but the website will be about my experience with places and then writing a review on it based on those experiences. Sort of like a review site on holiday locations.

It won't allow people to post their comments or opinions. It's purely a "review" based on my experience.

Since everyone loves positive news about their business I am more concerned about the odd occasion when I will inevitably write a bad "review". Can the business owner of the "bad review" go after me personally and legally for "damage to his business and/or reputation"?

From what I've read, the freedom of speech declaration should prevent him from going after me legally. After all, I would just be writing about my personal experience and it would be my personal opinion. It would just be more "public".
 
The only way he could sue you, is if he can prove without doubt that your complaint/negative write up is malicious and/or completely untrue. Exposing personal information about the owner for instance (i.e. "This guy is having an affair with his receptionist") could get you into serious trouble, but if you simply say "The service was bad, unhelpful etc" he really can't do anything to you. If he feels you've caused him financial damage, he could try take you on, but they would normally not even bother.
 
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I don't know much but as far as I understand you have the freedom to say what you want to, but if it is evident that you have given false information damaging the business then you can get into trouble, or if you have given out negative personal information publicly without evidence damaging the persons image. From my very limited understanding of these thing this is what I can come up with.
 
As long as it's the truth and the information you give is related to the business itself, then no, they can't do anything except improve their service ;)
 
Thanks guys. That's pretty much the line along which I was thinking too. Just keep it about the actual place and keep it as impersonal as possible and it should be okay I guess :)
 
The only way they can do something is if you write something on them which has no basis and is not factual. So if you write something defamatory about the people themselves or something, which is not true and offensive. Then they can do something
 
Well my domain name is registered :) Now I need to build my website and arrange hosting. Exciting times :)
 
tbh the owner cannot go after you personally or harm your business in anyway.... Look at Zero Punctuation for example... he rips off everything and is not afraid to speak his mind... I would say go for it... people cant take you out for giving a bad review or speaking your mind :rolleyes:
 
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