I received a letter from a lawyer requesting IP of a user who made potentially libelous forum post about some person. The post was quickly edited by a moderator, but the letter cited the original message. My forum does not have a privacy policy in place. I'm in the U.S. Has anybody ever had a similar issue? How did you handle it?
IP addresses aren't really covered by privacy laws. You may as well hand it over to show you are cooperating.
Err WTF? You guys just bend of to the man? Tell the lawyers to go fuck themselfs. They can find other people to harass. I truly feel sorry for you people living in US. I understand the situation, but bear in mind you're in the only country in the world where three people would recommend that situation.. What about free speech? It better have been a veeerry bad post..
so youd rather he become a part of the problem what he(the poster in trouble) said must have been bad if he went to a lawyer. PS im not in the US.
The op received a request from a Lawyer NOT a judge. You are under no obligation to comply, make this lawyer get a court order. edit: Just FYI http://techdirt.com/articles/20060606/0323235.shtml
I'm not in the US either. Unless you are a personal mate of the guy who posted the comment then why get drawn into his fight?
He's not getting drawn into anything. A lawyer, by himself, have no authority in the matter. You're not handing details to people just because they are lawyers or plumbers or bus drivers. If he is serious tell him to get a court order. Only after getting a judge signed court order, you should hand all available information related to the case.
I'd have to agree with the above, I've been in a similar situation, did nothing and heard nothing back from the lawyer.
Sorry bout my bad english. I ofcourse meant "bend over". Anyway. I was actually faxed a legal threat to one of my entertainment news sites from some sex and the city actor's lawyer about a news story that we hade republished that said she had sex in a trailer outside of her house with unknown men. (While her children was in her house). .. We changed the text because it was very mean-spirited and told the lawerys to go play somewhere else at the same time. The source that reported the story had already revoked the story alltogheter .. so there wasnt much loss for us. Those lawyer letter looks quite scary, but it's a long way from threat to actual lawsuit, especially on such murky waters as the internet. I still understand the problem if you're in US, I wouldnt be as cocky about it then...
Take a gander at this and see if it helps you make the correct decision -> http://techdirt.com/articles/20060606/0323235.shtml
There are no consequences for not giving it up and IMO you shouldn't. Even if they get a judge to demand it, so what, it's just another letter and you reply. Of course if you don't keep logs and/or prune your forum posts, you may not be able to supply that info later. Good luck
Don't hand over crap unless told to do so by a court order. For all of you saying to hand over the info, turn this around for a second. How do you know the request is even from a real lawyer?? It could be a stalker of this poster for all you know. Then if that person tracks them down and does harm to them, you really will have legal troubles. Lawyers have no authority to demand anything without a court order, but they sure like to intimidate you into thinking they do. lol
A request is simply that. Someone asking you for some information. If you don't want to turn it over. Just don't. If they want it, they will have to subpoena it. You can decide at that time if you wish to fight it. Also, if you wish, you can contact the user yourself and let them know their IP has been requested. If they want to fight it in court, they can spend the money and do so. You don't need to do anything until you get a legal document in the mail that requires you to produce something. That's my opinion.
Make them go through the legal system to get it and subpoena you for it. Without that, you are under no legal obligation to do anything.