Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Microcap & Penny Stocks : FutureTrak International, symbol FTRK -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Don Pueblo who wrote (239)	12/17/1998 8:06:00 PM
From: Dr. Harvey	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 663

I am sorry you are confused by Harvey being both the Dr. and the student. Perhaps one day you will figure it out. Here is something that may help you in your search for truth; is it libel or slander? Not sure, but the courts are now deciding. Oh, and by the way, I am not an attorney either, but I have several of them close by, just in case the knife slips. Libel law Another legal issue that often surfaces on the Web is libel. Libel is the publication of false or defamatory statements about another--which could be a person, an institution, or a company. Traditionally, the courts have distinguished between slander--which is a comment that appears in a transitory form, such as speech--and libel, which is published. While some types of online communication might seem like speech--for example, chatting--it's more likely that a charge of libel would apply. The test is generally whether the comments appear in a fixed form that others can see, which means that anything posted on a Web page, in a newsgroup, or even in a public chat could qualify as libel. For comments about an individual to be libelous, they must: (1) be false and (2) injure that person's reputation. However, the courts have established that different standards apply to comments made about public figures and public officials. In those cases, the statements have to be made with "actual malice" (or knowledge that they're false) to be considered libelous. Also, comments that are clearly made in the context of a parody (such as The Secret Diary of Bill Gates), are not consideredlibel. Defamation of a company or its products is referred to as product disparagement or trade libel, and it's much harder to prove than libel about an individual. A company must show actual damages--such as a loss of business--to win a libel case, while individuals must only show that their reputation has been damaged. In general, truth is the best defense against libel claims. As long as you can show that what you've written or posted is accurate, you can't be found guilty. But anyone--or more importantly, any company--can sue you for libel. So, unless you're prepared to defend yourself, you may want to steer clear of targets with deep pockets. builder.cnet.com FYI, Dr.'s that become students generally have very deep pockets.