There has been a raise in companies filing defamation lawsuit against anonymous poster, posting negative comments about their company. The process is fairly simple. The company files a defamation claim against a “John Doe”. The complaint enables the company to issue subpoena against websites where the comments were posted asking for information concerning the identity of the poster. The information will come in the form of server logs, user account information and ip addresses.
These days, one’s ip address is the equivalent of one’s home address or finger print. As each home is appointed to a unique ip address. Once they have your ip address, they can subpoena your Internet Provider for the account associated to your ip address.
With this information, they can now connect you to the comments being made on the Internet. They then amend their complaint to add you as a Doe. Serve you and the lawsuit begins.
The US Supreme Court recent ruling on campaign spending could have long time effects. If you haven’t heard, the overturn a 63 year old law limiting political spending by labor and big business on the grounds of free speech.
The ruling paves the way for corporations, labor unions, and religious groups to give money to sway votes to push their agenda.
The ruling covers the money corporations and unions may spend from their own profits on independent ads and other advocacy efforts on behalf of candidates or issues. It does not change restrictions on direct contributions to candidates for federal office, which remain prohibited under federal law, but are allowed in New Jersey state races.
The decision essentially means that if a corporation wanted to spend millions of dollars of its own money on its own issues ads in support of a candidate, it may do so. The ruling does not change spending rules covering the thousands of political action committees by corporations and special interest groups.
Now Congress will have to decide how they want to react to the high court’s ruling.