In bad news for bloggers everywhere, a court in New Jersey recently ruled that bloggers are not covered by so-called shield laws which protect newspaper reporters and other journalists from revealing their sources. Rather, according to the article in nj.com, the allegedly defamatory posts were “nothing more than the rants of a ‘private person’.” The judge in that case was heavily influenced by the blogger’s lack of ties to the established media.
Overall, relatively few lawsuits appear to have been filed against bloggers. Given the ad hoc and personal nature of many blogs, an increase in the number of lawsuits against bloggers is likely, and this decision suggests that bloggers should not rely on the legal protections afforded journalists.
Similar Posts:
- None Found
{ 0 comments… add one now }