talking bad about companies

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Laceygirl, Jan 13, 2009.

  1. #1
    I worked at this dirty company and really want to write a major blog post about some of the nasty's they have been doing.

    This is a cabinet company.

    You think they can sue because I say they suck?:(
     
    Laceygirl, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  2. MDArcade.Com

    MDArcade.Com Banned

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    #2
    Dude you can even post that your country president has big ears on a blog and no-one can sue you. LOL thats why blogging is so good!
     
    MDArcade.Com, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  3. Assault591

    Assault591 Guest

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    #3
    Remember that thing called the bill of right in parts of the constituion?

    Freedom of speech

    Freedom of the press

    if they try to sue you you can protect ur self with those two rights...
     
    Assault591, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  4. JenniP

    JenniP Peon

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    #4
    Putting my "I am not a lawyer" hat on here.

    I don't know what the legal system is like in Canada, but they certainly could sue here in the UK, and since I think the Canadian legal system is in part based on ours I imagine you can as well.

    Whether the could win now that's another matter, did a quick Google and found this about the UK law system, it may relate in part to the Canadian system.

    Again a quick Google shows that you can indeed get sued.

    Jen
     
    JenniP, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  5. hostlonestar

    hostlonestar Peon

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    #5
    Yes, also wearing a "i aint a lawyer hat"

    At least here in the US, if you post factual posts about why they suck, or you are giving your opinion that they suck, you should be good. Now, if you go start saying lies, you would be liable for a suit for libel (basically making lies about someone in print, slander is verbal) However, say they don't pay their employees on time, or have bad working conditions, you should be able to post they suck because they don't pay employees on time or whatever.
     
    hostlonestar, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  6. stangparts

    stangparts Member

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    #6
    I agree with @hostlonestar, in the U.S. posting your opinion and/or factual statements is not a crime. Make sure you do not step outside the box and state something as fact if you cannot back up with proof. Some opinions can also be challenged in court as well, make sure you don't get to crazy with personal attacks citing that they are merely opinions.
     
    stangparts, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  7. iWrite

    iWrite Peon

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    #7
    The fact that you agree about laws for the U.S. is irrelevant, since this guy lives in Canada.
     
    iWrite, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  8. hostlonestar

    hostlonestar Peon

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    #8
    very good iwrite, we realize that, he was agreeing with me, and I was letting him know what its like in the US, its a better start than what he came here with.
     
    hostlonestar, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  9. Laceygirl

    Laceygirl Notable Member

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    #9
    Canada and US are also identical in law.

    In all of my words against this company I always state that it is only an opinion by me. Basically my blog entries are somewhat like a review on certian things they do such as profit share, wage review, and many other nasty systems they run with.
    I'll write one today and post it here, to show as an example.
     
    Laceygirl, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  10. Feydakin

    Feydakin Active Member

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    #10
    May not get sued, but I bet you get fired when they figure out it's you..
     
    Feydakin, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  11. Laceygirl

    Laceygirl Notable Member

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    #11
    I already got laid off this Monday.

    For 4 years I've been watching these huge place do so much dirt, but now I'm FREE. I can talk about it. Who knows how many articles I can write. I'm Broke but FREE!!
     
    Laceygirl, Jan 13, 2009 IP
  12. mjewel

    mjewel Prominent Member

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    #12
    They can certainly sue you - whether or not they would win depends on exactly what you write. You would need to hire an attorney if they sue you, and you might not want your name posted on the net for other companies that might hire you in the future to see. Even if you put privacy protection on the website, they can still find out who was behind it with a court order.
     
    mjewel, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  13. LithiumCove

    LithiumCove Active Member

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    #13
    Anyone can sue for any reason, frivolous or not. The option is theirs. Winning or not, is a different issue.

    For you, if it's something that you care deeply about, then you should voice your opinion. If they sue you, or not, that is their option and is beyond your control.

    Now when your voice and opinion becomes illegal (slanderous or libelous), then it might give them more leverage for their case, but the option to sue is still theirs, and still beyond your control.

    Look at it from the company's perspective. Is your opinion going to carry that much weight (does your site get enough of a supportive following) that it can and will negatively impact their business? If you start a blog and get 2 visitors to your site a day, I doubt the company will care, because it costs money to sue someone. But if your site gain traction and you negatively impact their business, believe me, they will do everything in their power to take you down.

    Bottom line is you have the legal right and protection to voice your opinion. If you do it illegally, then someone will have the grounds to ask that you be stopped. But they have to do the "asking" and there's really nothing that you can do to prevent them from suing you. Just don't do anything illegal and they won't have the grounds to sue, and even if they do sue, it would be very difficult to win.
     
    LithiumCove, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  14. MattSanti

    MattSanti Well-Known Member

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    #14
    As much as you want to complain about the company, why focus on the negativity? If you're free man, start taking complete advantage of that and building something real on the Internet. Then you never have to worry about working for another company where you may run into shady characters again.
     
    MattSanti, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  15. Laceygirl

    Laceygirl Notable Member

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    #15

    I don't make enough online for it to be a good thing to get layed off. I can't build much on the internet because the market is gone.
     
    Laceygirl, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  16. Gaston Glock19

    Gaston Glock19 Guest

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    #16
    Depends what you say I guess. As long as you don't say anything untrue, defame them, etc.
     
    Gaston Glock19, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  17. Seqqa

    Seqqa Well-Known Member

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    #17
    Aslong as it's true, you can say what the hell you want.

    If you expose a company for doing something and it's they can't do feck all about, if they do contact you tell them them to do one!
     
    Seqqa, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  18. hostlonestar

    hostlonestar Peon

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    #18
    To sum all this up, pretty much don't libel them and your good to go. You may get sued, but you will probably win and be able to counter sue them for attorney fees and any lost time and what not.
     
    hostlonestar, Jan 14, 2009 IP
  19. paark.s

    paark.s Peon

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    #19
    "I want that not a lawyer hat,too"

    You can complain on thing like -- they're sucks -- these kind of stuff. But talking the secret of the company is different. Did you check you employment contract? Free speech doesn't apply here.

    I'm trying to be general, not in specific to any country.
     
    paark.s, Jan 14, 2009 IP