Some Articles on Libel and the Internet
LIBEL IN CYBERSPACE: A FRAMEWORK
FOR ADDRESSING LIABILITY AND JURISDICTIONAL ISSUES IN THIS NEW FRONTIER,
Cynthia L. Counts and C. Amanda Martin. The article is reprinted with the
permission of THE ALBANY LAW REVIEW. The original document was published
in Vol. 59, No. 4, Page 1083.
This extensive on-line paper provides a general overview of legal and privacy
issues related to libel and cyberspace. The paper discusses libel law generally,
the first amendment’s impact on emerging technologies, wire services’
liability, and the impact of new legislative action relating to libel on-line.
The Cyberlaw Encyclopedia,
Defamation and Libel in Cyberspace
This site provides a plethora of links to short articles describing libel
in cyberspace. Some titles include: Digital Defamation: An Overview of the
Emerging Law of Libel and Invasion of Privacy, Electronic Libel: Responsibility of BBS Operators (P. Sim), Free Speech in
Cyberspace (P. Sim), Holding the line, on-line, expands liability (David
Loundy), Libel & Suppression (Jonathan Rosenoer). The site also provides
link to relevant, recently decided legal cases.
DEFAMATION ON THE INTERNET, Paper prepared for conference entitled "LEGAL
ISSUES ON THE INTERNET" (1996)
This extensive paper provides an overview of judicial issues raised by libel
on cyberspace. The paper discusses elements of libel, liability for libel
on the Internet, and some predictions of the future direction of libel law
for cyberspace. The paper’s introduction provides a variety of quotes:
"The economics just aren't there. The limiting factors are, No. 1, that most people aren't worth suing and, No. 2, that for most people, a better remedy lies at hand. You get on the Net and correct the record" Mike Godwin, Staff Counsel, Electronic Frontier Foundation quoted in Nat'l L.J. (July 18, 1994) A21;
"To say that libel and slander are rampant on the Internet would be an understatement." R. Timothy Muth, "Old Doctrines on a New Frontier: Defamation and Jurisdiction in Cyberspace", The [Wisconsin] Courier (September 1995).