This in an issue about being a responsible commentator within the law and how does the Internet and Blogging impact and get impacted.

As for my stance on the Court Challenges Program - go to my Blog posting of April 21. I value it highly and even helped take a case to the Supreme Court using it resources. Here is the link

http://ken-chapman.blogspot.com/2007/04/dion-wants-court-challenges-program.html

“Yes there is a potential for unfairness based on differences in capacity to defend oneself. Who said life is fair.”

… is rather appalling. I take it you didnt care 1 whit when then COurt Challenges Programme got cancelled by the Tories - which gave some groups the ability to be heard before the Courts when they might otherwise not have been

Pardon me for saying this.. but that doesn’t sound too progressive to me.

Canada’s libel laws are very weak compared to the US’s, and shows how out of date they are with the new medium known as the internet. I dont often call for us to imitate much of what is US law, but in this case, I think they have a much more sensible law hen we do. (Though to be honest, I think the lawsuit is oging to be dismissed as frivolous when it finally gets to court. Hopefully the bloggers being sued will still have enough financial resources to get that far).

The ultimate defense to claims of defamation is that the alleged statements, if made, were true. If you are prepared to make serious allegations you better be able to prove them to be true.

It might be informative if some folks rented the old movie “All the President’s Men” on Watergate/Nixon and the Washington Post showing journalism at its finest hour to understand the due diligenece demands required of reporters and publishers - a.k.a. Bloggers. Every blogger is a journalist and a publisher and those roles come with responsibilities.

I think this legal action will be a good thing for Bloggers and blogging - presuming it goes to trial. It will hopefuly set some clear law especially on the inter-relationship of sites and the duties and liabilities of Bloggers using hyperlinking and if it is a further publication of content.