Owen and Karl Oyston are seeking £150,000 damages from the Back Henry Street website. The BBC article on it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-31299325 The forum they are suing: http://www.backhenrystreet.co.uk/forum-2.html The website has set up a petition you can sign. The link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/statement-of-fact-to-the-court They have also set up a paypal account for donations to help them with legal fees. If you feel like donating go here: http://www.backhenrystreet.co.uk/thread-24080.html#.VNlfpflFApE It will explain what to do. This simply should not be allowed to happen.
Yikes - serious stuff. A good reminder though, I guess. EDIT: The Oyston's, to my mind, are an 'interesting' crowd. There, I think that is okay.
For the sake of football sanity, this should not happen. Here's a random Quiz: What is one of the terms for a shepherd's stick? I can't quite remember..... Answer = a "staff" What is the name of the BBC Sport Team of the Week author...... Answer = "Garth"
In a totally unrelated musing on life that has occurred to me for no reason whatsoever, I'd imagine that a festering, infected sore on one's bottom would be pretty interesting in its own right. In a totally related musing on life, libel laws in the UK is really frightening stuff.
Don't know details of this case, but not sure why people believe that posting on a forum is different from posting by any other means. If you say something untrue which damages another person's reputation or business, you lay yourself open to the law. Just surprised it hasn't happened before to be honest as things posted on the web go world wide more than a poster stuck on a tree. I presume the site posted a disclaimer about views not being their own, but are probably being accused of not being quick enough to close down anything truly defamatory. Freedom of speech doesn't mean you can say anything without evidence. Whether it is wise to sue your own fans is an entirely different issue. I shall wait and see what has actually been going on before climbing on my high horse.
It has definitely happened on UK ice hockey websites. Quite a few years ago a Sheffield Steelers player sued someone from one of their forums for derogatory remarks [if my memory serves me correct]. After that a post went out on all the ice-hockey supporters forums, everyone sh*t themselves but it didn't take long for them to forget and every accusation and personal opinion and unsubstantiated rumour were being posted as FACT. Remember if you type fact in block capitals it means it is definitely true. I would imagine in the considerably richer world of football players and big clubs probably don't bother too much because the adverse publicity isn't worth it. After all 'mulit-millionaire Premiership player X sues plumbers mate Y for millions because he was horrible about him and repeated an oft repeated rumour on a forum that only has 200 regular posters', really does look a bit knobbish. Unless of course it is very, very, bad rumours. Mind you Jimmy Saville would have sued you despite the many rumours circulating. So suing doesn't always mean someone is wrong, just they can't prove it - and therein lies the rub. Basically be careful out there....
Was it you, Beefy, who said that the training ground security didn't appreciate him and his attitude? That was very much the case.
Is "twat" in the English dictionary? If he tried to sue, Beefy could say he interprets the word very differently from the common meaning
[QUOis the opinion of this courtE="fran-MLs little camera, post: 7597754, member: 1005831"]Lovren has to prove he isn't one....that will be nigh on impossible. The judge would throw it out.[/QUOTE] "It is the opinion of this court, Mr Lovren..."
If he wins any money he can use it to get the arms on his glasses corrected. Freedom of speech is incredibly important but the law of what is acceptable and what is not is incredibly complicated. The educated would say it's just common sense, but in the age of social media this needs to be an essential part of every childs education
