We've heard stories like this before: individual posts a comment using an alias on a message board that's critical of some company or organization; organization sues either the host of the message board or the individual who posted the message or both in an effort to stifle criticism. In some states, these lawsuits fall under the category of SLAPP- Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation- and some states even allow the individual who was sued to counter-sue for damages if it is determined by a court that the first suit was indeed a SLAPP. Basically the idea is to sue the victim into oblivion using the relatively endless legal resources of a corporation. The corporation doesn't even have to win- just bankrupt the victim. It's dirty pool.

Protection One, a home security firm, had been fighting to force Yahoo to reveal the identities of several subscribers who posted messages critical of that company, but has now abandoned that fight. In this case, it is conceivable that Protection One may have had a legitimate complaint; they allege that one of the posters described some personal traits of a manager with the company.

However, I'd argue that (the case of the manager's personal information being revealed aside) companies and indeed individuals who have a great deal of public recognition ought to expect and deal with public criticism-- including name calling, loud-mouthed opinions, and the like. Until a specific, false allegation is made, corporations and indivduals need to learn just to ignore it, or offer an alternative point of view. Suing the criticism out of somebody is the last thing one should do from an ethical, legal, or political standpoint (because after all, what better way is there to give the impression that someone is right in criticizing a company than for the company to turn around and sue them to shut them up?).

So applause for Protection One for coming to its senses, but three jeers for them doing it only after reaching an agreement with Yahoo for the offending messages to be deleted from public view.

---Nick