The Inquisitr - Latest Comments in Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

Re: Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

Name — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:01:18 -0000

I was just threatened on the phone by an auto body shop for an opinion he found online. He didn't ask if I did it he said "'WE FIXED YOUR CAR ON -----AND YOU WROTE A REVIEW ONLINE ...AND YOU NEED TO GET IF OFF...IF YOU DON'T GET IT OFF YOU'LL HEAR FROM MY ATTORNEY" I called back and asked which website I could find my name and he said my name was not on there but he assumed it was me..I said I didn't know what he was talking about and that I would be there with the police for the threatening phone call...I did a search online..found 3 reviews for this place...but could not find my name anywhere..so what should I do?

Re: Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

christan singles — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:02:57 -0000

Actually, it's not

Re: Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

camelcase — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 11:52:08 -0000

Most of the reviews cannot be tracked and there is nothing a hotel could do to control what people say. 99% of the time, the reviews reflect reality.. You obviously get the odd person that complains about everything.

Re: Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

Bad Entrepreneur — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 02:12:29 -0000

The law and business are going to have to learn to adapt to Consumer 2.0.

The web means that consumers can communicate opinions on poor products but just as likely, they can stimulate interest in a product with a positive review.

Nobody ever complains when they get a great review and enjoy hundreds of visitors and enquiries!

Re: Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

wogan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:43:27 -0000

If you haven't got anything good to say, say nothing at all.

I think the problem here is that social media instills a sort of "duty" to warn others of terrible services (or in this case, hotels). I believe that those bloggers were fully within their rights to say what they said. If the claims are false, then the hotel companies would easily be able to invite a few unbiased members of the public (or media) to check out hotel conditions, and get proof that the blogger was over-reacting.

The fact that they're going to court with this would seem to suggest otherwise, and whether or not they win the lawsuit, I reckon people are going to think twice when they hear their name. They're doing themselves more damage than a blog post ever could.

Re: Does a Negative Online Review Constitute Libel?

pathawks — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:17:59 -0000

Actually, it's not quite as straight forward as you (and most of us) would like it to be.
Saying a hotel was “filthy and bug-infested" is different from saying "I think it was filthy and bug-infested."
Note the very subtle difference?