P2PNet editor Jon Newton has made a plea for donations to help him fight a lawsuit brought against him by Sharman Networks and Nikki Hemming. Jon sees this as an important free speech case and one does have to ask, just how much can a blogger/editor say on the Internet and remain immune to legal attacks? The outcome of this case will have an impact in Canada, whether it's a victory for free speech on the Internet or the beginning of a nightmare for publishers. It could also be used in similar cases internationally as an example.
Here's a post that Jon made...
You can donate using Paypal at the news source and Jon has given details to users who'd prefer not to use Paypal to send money.
Source:
p2pnet
p2pnet is being sued by Kazaa owner Sharman Networks and Kazaa ceo Nikki Hemming for alleged libel.
But what's really on trial is whether or not an online publication - a blog - can be held responsible for something someone else posts. Or put another way, rather than being a publisher, is it in reality a content filter acting on behalf of persons unknown?
And there's something else: as far as I'm concerned, an anonymous post is the same as a confidential source. I don't have to like a post, or even agree with it. But I believe that as an honest and responsible human being, I do have to safeguard the poster, if indeed I know who he or she is which in this cased, I don't.
If Sharman wins it'll make life a potential hell for bloggers in Canada, at the least. And you can bet the case will be used as a reference for similar actions around the world.
That's why I'm going to fight it vigorously in front of a jury, with or without a lawyer.
You can donate using Paypal at the news source and Jon has given details to users who'd prefer not to use Paypal to send money.
Source:
p2pnet
