Slander via website???

[Schwanson]

What is the name of your state? OHIO


I am about to launch a website. The idea for this website was to pick apart competitors weaknesses and emphasize how my company is better in those weaknesses. I have found complaints and others opinions on my competitors through the web. Some of thes are obviously opinions and past experienced clients. Can I be sued for slander if something that I said was not true about a company??? It would obviously not be on purpose. I have retrieved my data via web searches and other websites. I just do not want a huge company with expensive lawyers trying to sue me just because they can.

If they can, what if I included a dislcaimer saying the info supported on the site was found via web searches and other websites and may be hear-say and may not. Any info for those of you that know the law in this are well would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[seniorjudge]

Q: Can I be sued for slander if something that I said was not true about a company?

A: Yes; disclaimers won't do anything. Whether anyone would win such a lawsuit, I do not know.

[Schwanson]

How do I keep myself safe? I see this type of marketing all the time so I know it must be common. I was thinking that maybe I should keep my content exactly to what I can support with the links to these websites such as complaints.com and consumeraffairs.com. Obviously because I am in the business, I have heard stories about my competitors as well, but maybe I should keep those in my head and not on my website and stick to what I can support via links?

[ecmst12]

Anyone can sue anyone for anything, you can't prevent that. Whether they will win is a different story, but the only way to prevent people from trying to sue you is to try not to tick them off. Just because what you are doing may not meet the legal definition of slander, does NOT mean that they can't try to sue you and be a big pain in your neck.

[Schwanson]

I'm sure they will be mad since I am generating business by exposing their weaknesses as a large company compared to working with a smaller one. But I do not think I will hurt their business very much at all because of the size companies I am dealing with compared to my small company. But you are correct, anyone sues for anything these days so who knows. I just want to be as careful as possible so I do have to even deal with it.

[BelizeBreeze]

and that's not even considering the copyright infringement suits you will pay to defend against

[Schwanson]

What do you mean copyright infringements? I will be supplying links to the sites in which I pulled the information from such as (complaints.com, consumeraffairs.com, etc).

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by Schwanson

What do you mean copyright infringements? I will be supplying links to the sites in which I pulled the information from such as (complaints.com, consumeraffairs.com, etc).

Did I stutter? Copyright infringement. Look it up.

[Helix]

Did I stutter? Copyright infringement. Look it up.

Look that not helpful.... and additionally citing consumer views and quoting people off different websites should fall under freedom of speech.... Im not sure if your legal understanding here is sufficient.

To the original poster.... If the information you have avaliable is already posted else where online, it should be fine to use them as anecdotal evidence, stistics and testimonials......to cover your bases makes suer you link to the source and refernce...

for example dont say: 50% of users think ALPHA is the worst product ever and fails on every regard.

Do say: According to consumer reviews and consumer opinions espressed here (link) 50% of users think ALph is ineffective.

Have a disclaimer.. state small and at the bottom that your company owns this site and that this site is not to be taken as a candid review of the other companies.

always link and reference your sources... dont make up anything factually untrue about the comapny.... Personal opinion is always okay....

Ie Do say "Our product is one of the best on the market"

Dont Say "Larger companies like ALPHA recieves hundreds of law suits per year because of poor product quality.. "

ETC....

Hope this helps

[stephenk]

What does your company's attorney say about your idea?

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by Helix

always link and reference your sources... dont make up anything factually untrue about the comapny.... Personal opinion is always okay....

and again, look up copyright infringement.

[Helix]

This is absurd. Hyperlinking among pages of Internet contentis an intrinsic feature of the Internet.

Please look up copyright infringement and see what it IS and IS NOT.

FYI.. you just quoted me with out my explicit written permission.

[Schwanson]

Thanks to those of you who were not rude in answering my question. I will look up copyright infringement. I have also found out that I would probably be getting a cease and desist from the person who does not like the content I have on my site. I have modified my content to make it much more vague and not including anything that has hear-say that isnt backed by one of the links I have provided. As for that last comment...come on man. Have you ever ate Subway? McDonalds little burger has sooo much more fat than that huge tasty subway sub! All I am simply doing is showing weaknesses in larger companies that are in the same business as mine and then saying how my smaller more focused business does not have these problems. Its a lead generating website. Obviously you have no internet marketing experience to make a stupid comment like that.

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by Schwanson

Thanks to those of you who were not rude in answering my question. I will look up copyright infringement. I have also found out that I would probably be getting a cease and desist from the person who does not like the content I have on my site. I have modified my content to make it much more vague and not including anything that has hear-say that isnt backed by one of the links I have provided. As for that last comment...come on man. Have you ever ate Subway? McDonalds little burger has sooo much more fat than that huge tasty subway sub! All I am simply doing is showing weaknesses in larger companies that are in the same business as mine and then saying how my smaller more focused business does not have these problems. Its a lead generating website. Obviously you have no internet marketing experience to make a stupid comment like that.

and you are not an attorney.

[Schwanson]

I am not an attorney. I just seeked the legal advice of others on this board...not rude comments thats all. And as for who I was talking to...

Originally Posted by AHA

That's your vision of a trustworthy business?? I, for one, wouldn't pay a dime to a company that focusses on b*tching about other companies.

I don't care what you would do or about what companies you may or may not use. The original post was for legal advice, not to hear if you would like my business or not. Thanks for your opinion though. Maybe you will eat some Subway for lunch today?