Being carefull on forums

[Pickle]

So sometimes it just get's taken out of our hands.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/forum-ordered-to-hand-over-user-details/news-story/19e719e469e9af9c1578dbca12c9c817

[ausGeoff]

I'd guess it'll depend on Whirlpool's response in the Federal court. Simon's been down this path before and won—see the 2Clix Software case from 2007.

Andrew Doolan's claims could also be dismissed outright by ther court as vexatious litigation depending on his evidence—and Simon's defence. I'm also guessing Doolan ain't gonna get any member details. Let's hope not anyway, as it could further set unwanted privacy precedents.

[Wazzap]

I'd guess it'll depend on Whirlpool's response in the Federal court. Simon's been down this path before and won—see the 2Clix Software case from 2007.

Andrew Doolan's claims could also be dismissed outright by ther court as vexatious litigation depending on his evidence—and Simon's defence. I'm also guessing Doolan ain't gonna get any member details. Let's hope not anyway, as it could further set unwanted privacy precedents.

Don't know what they're likely to get out of it - you could use a generic email address so it's not really tied into your real name, and the IP address will still need a lot of work to match to a user (if it's even possible - until the recent data retention laws most ISPs would only hold session details for a short time, and they'd have to go through court to get the ISP to give up this detail too).

The more concerning thing is the costs behind fighting it - I know of another aussie forum that closed down for a long time due to a company taking them to court for slander (as someone had posted a vendor verdict on the site, so the company that was slandered sued the site rather than the user), and Whirlpools defense from 2clix was quite expensive too (and even if you win and are awarded costs, you still have to bankroll the defense in the mean time, and put everything on winning).

[11T.Co]

If you're interested to read a bit more on the subject there's a statement about this in the Whirlpool thread that started it all.

[David Anderson]

IMHO, the fact that you can be anonymous on a forum, and on-line in general, is not such a great thing.
It's too easy for people to be nasty to each other knowing they do so anonymously and without fear of consequence.

[Poita]

Be honest in your story if you have had a bad experience with a particular company and I don't see what you have to be worried about.

[barney351]

Be honest in your story if you have had a bad experience with a particular company and I don't see what you have to be worried about.

True words Poita,
Be 100% honest when when you have had a bad experience, and if these company's are also 100% honest, and are prepared to stand by their products, there should not be a reason for these issues to get out of hand.

[Stoneman]

It's all scare tactics these days

Don't believe half of what you see and none of what you hear

Always think what has that person got to gain with what he's saying and why is he saying it in the first place

I haven't even clicked the link!

If your honest and tell the truth there is not a single thing anyone can do except talk crap!