Let The Mongering Begin

John Maltbie has a good summary of Batzel v. Smith (PDF), a new 9th Circuit decision limiting the libel liability and protecting the online speech rights of Web site managers. I'm still writing a brief and haven't had the chance to do more than skim the opinion, but Judge Gould's dissenting fears that the ruling "licenses professional rumor-mongers and gossip-hounds to spread false and hurtful information with impunity" are being widely reported. (Shouldn't that be "mongerers," by the way?)

I definitely will want to consider how this decision might bear on some of our panel's responses to Phil Wolff's questions, still in process. For now, more from:

• Reuters: "Court Limits Defamation Scope in Internet Case"


• Out-Law.com: "Defamation victory for web site and listserver operators"


• Ars Tecnica: "Starting vicious rumors over listservs ruled OK"


• c | net News.com (Declan McCullagh): "Libel ruling favors site operators"


• MSNBC: "Court limits scope on Net defamation"