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Lawyer wants IP of a forum poster

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by webplayer, Jun 6, 2006.

  1. #1
    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?
     
    webplayer, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  2. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #2
    IP addresses aren't really covered by privacy laws. You may as well hand it over to show you are cooperating.
     
    mad4, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  3. chris20492002

    chris20492002 Guest

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    #3
    hand it over. theres no reason to get in trouble over him.
     
    chris20492002, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  4. Dreamchaser

    Dreamchaser Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Nothing wrong, you can provide him the IP, he did not ask you anything else.

    Cheers,
    Dremchaser
     
    Dreamchaser, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  5. KingSEO

    KingSEO Peon

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    #5
    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..
     
    KingSEO, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  6. chris20492002

    chris20492002 Guest

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    #6

    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.
     
    chris20492002, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  7. routed11

    routed11 Peon

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    #7
    routed11, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  8. mad4

    mad4 Peon

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    #8
    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?
     
    mad4, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  9. hextraordinary

    hextraordinary Well-Known Member

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    #9
    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.
     
    hextraordinary, Jun 6, 2006 IP
    MattUK likes this.
  10. VISTREL

    VISTREL Peon

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    #10
    quoted for truth...

    Unless there's an order from court you don't have to do shit.
     
    VISTREL, Jun 6, 2006 IP
    MattUK likes this.
  11. MattUK

    MattUK Notable Member

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    #11
    I'd have to agree with the above, I've been in a similar situation, did nothing and heard nothing back from the lawyer.
     
    MattUK, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  12. rewlie

    rewlie Active Member

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    #12
    they also wanna make money like us, but the way they make it, sometimes annoying..
     
    rewlie, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  13. KingSEO

    KingSEO Peon

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    #13
    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...
     
    KingSEO, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  14. smurf

    smurf Peon

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    #14
    Don't give him anything. That's all I gotta say.

    <3 America
     
    smurf, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  15. Phynder

    Phynder Well-Known Member

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    #15
    Phynder, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  16. noppid

    noppid gunnin' for the quota

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    #16
    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
     
    noppid, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  17. DarkBrothers

    DarkBrothers Active Member

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    #17
    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
     
    DarkBrothers, Jun 6, 2006 IP
  18. browntwn

    browntwn Illustrious Member

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    #18
    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.
     
    browntwn, Jun 8, 2006 IP
  19. digitalpoint

    digitalpoint Overlord of no one Staff

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    #19
    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.
     
    digitalpoint, Jun 11, 2006 IP
  20. sarathy

    sarathy Peon

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    #20
    agrees with routed11
     
    sarathy, Jun 12, 2006 IP