11.11.05
Protecting Your Virtual Voice
You’re blogging along and all of the sudden - WHAM! You’re hit with a Cease and Desist notice. You’re confused. You didn’t even think anyone was really reading your blog in the first place. So you voiced an emphatic opinion about a politician or ranted about a product that didn’t meet your expectations. Freedom of speech is a basic right after all. Maybe you wrote a synopsis of the latest movie you saw or broadcasted a great podcast you came across. What could’ve been wrong with that? Maybe nothing.
Reality is your blog has given you a virtual voice in a global environment. One that may or may not be wanted. Some individuals and businesses would rather not have you as a spokesperson, and may be misusing intellectual property and other laws in an attempt to stifle the legitimate free expression of online users.
Are you within your legal rights? Positive or negative, you are responsible for the content you post and possibly even for the comments responding bloggers leave. It is up to you to understand the protections that the First Amendment and intellectual property laws give to your online activities. Luckily, there’s help.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s mission is to defend digital rights. A Legal Guide for Bloggers, is a collection of blogger-specific FAQs designed to help you understand your rights and, if necessary, defend your freedom.
If you’ve received a letter asking you to remove a link to a Web site, delete information or stop engaging in an unsolicited activity, than this site is for you: Chilling Effects Clearinghouse. A joint project of the EFF and prominent law schools, Chilling Effects will help you decipher Cease and Desist notices so you can make informed decisions about your online activities.
Blog informed.
