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Website discussing illegal products?

Discussion in 'Legal Issues' started by Brahska, Aug 24, 2015.

  1. #1
    For example if someone has a blog and writes about weed, steroids or like the new party drug of the year and stuff like that is there anything illegal there for the owner of the site to get in trouble for just having a website about it? Not selling it of course just discussing stuff pertaining to it.

    Part 2: I have seen random sites like this (some pretty nice ones imo) and they have flash banner ads on the site for other companies that do sell illegal stuff or at least controversial. Does this have any effect on making it illegal?

    If this is against the forum rules in any way please delete.
     
    Brahska, Aug 24, 2015 IP
  2. billzo

    billzo Well-Known Member

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    #2
    It all depends on which country you are in. Advertising illegal stuff is illegal in the United States. No way around that. Discussing illegal things is not illegal, as long as you are not encouraging it. A blog about terrorism is not illegal; a blog encouraging or facilitating terrorism would be.

    If you have any doubts, don't do it.

    There was a story of a guy years ago who would go on drug forums and share recipes for creating synthetic drugs. He would then recommend people buy their chemicals from a certain chemical supplier website. It turned out he owned the website. He ended up getting arrested and sentenced to hard time for it.
     
    billzo, Aug 24, 2015 IP
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  3. ecchi

    ecchi Member

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    #3
    Advertising illegal goods is considered "aiding and abetting" in all jurisdictions I know. Even if you don't make money out of it, you will go to jail. And if you do make money out of it, or get paid in kind (paid advertising, affiliate program, free drugs for you, etc..) you will go to jail for a very long time.

    Just talking about illegal goods is OK in most countries, with most things, but NB the word "most" in both cases. I would check with a local lawyer before doing this.

    However do note that if you intend to talk about illegal things but only advertise legal things, most affiliate programs do not allow this. And if they catch you they will not only blacklist you (often a shared blacklist) they will also refuse to give you any money they already owe you. They may also sue you to get back any money they have already paid you. If you intend to go down this route, ask the sponsor first. Don't just assume that because it is not actually mentioned in their T&C that it is OK, email them and ask, or you may loose out.
     
    ecchi, Aug 29, 2015 IP
  4. pmf123

    pmf123 Notable Member

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    #4
    are you marketing your site, or are you located in the USA?

    as said above, discussion in the US is protected by freedom of speech.

    selling products would be governed by locate of you and locate of buyer.
     
    pmf123, Sep 2, 2015 IP
  5. ecchi

    ecchi Member

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    #5
    That may protect from prosecution in most cases. (N.B. not if it is "incitement" eg you can say "The President should be killed" But cannot say "Somebody please kill the President" - similarly "Drugs should be legal" is OK "Go on, try heroin." Is not.)

    However it does not get round the fact that most sponsors will simply not pay you what you earned if you advertise their goods on a site that says things they do not like - that is their constitutional right!
     
    ecchi, Sep 2, 2015 IP
  6. jrbiz

    jrbiz Acclaimed Member

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    #6
    If you are considering going through the trouble of starting a website, promoting it, working it hard on all other aspects, etc., why would you pick a business model that causes you to ask about the legality of it in the first place? Business idea generation needs to follow the rule of comma's: "When in doubt, leave it out."

    Go on to something that you have no doubts or lingering concerns about and that you can devote your entire heart and soul to because you know that it is a good and legitimate business.
     
    jrbiz, Sep 6, 2015 IP
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