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A California lawsuit could lead to negative reviews being removed from the web.
Yelp.com is warning that a California lawsuit targeting critical posts about a law firm could lead to the removal of negative reviews and leave consumers with a skewed assessment of restaurants and other businesses.
Lawyer Dawn Hassell said the business review website is exaggerating the stakes of her legal effort, which aims only to remove from Yelp lies, not just negative statements, that damaged the reputation of her law firm.
Though its impact is in dispute, the case is getting attention from some of the biggest Internet companies in the world, which say a ruling against Yelp could stifle free speech online and effectively gut other websites whose main function is offering consumers reviews of services and businesses.
A San Francisco judge determined the posts were defamatory and ordered the company to remove them two years ago, which a second judge and a state appeals court upheld.
The case is now headed for the California Supreme Court.
(Score: 2) by f4r on Sunday September 18 2016, @12:40PM
Of course, after that wise choice, valve dropped their games like a sack of hammers. It really does beggar belief that their response to people not liking their content is to sue, instead of trying to make something people want and/or like.
Do not use as directed.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday September 18 2016, @03:42PM
It really does beggar belief that their response to people not liking their content is to sue, instead of trying to make something people want and/or like.
Sometimes it seems to me that entire businesses are built around ripping off 1st time customers and limiting negative criticism.