–nuff said–

Responsible, yes; obligated, not necessarily.

See, if Smart comes up to me and ask that I delete all 1,800+ “unfounded” comments in my blog about their service OR the government (specifically the DOJ and the NTC) asking me to remove all the Gloriagate tapes and the Hello Garci ringtones, I would say the same.

This is not the first time someone asked me to remove comments or materials from my blog. The only thing that is unique about this case is because there’s an implied law suit if I do not follow the request, as exemplified in Gary’s case (which was publicized in the Inquirer).

Agree.

Having the power to choose not to delete things at someone else’s whim, while bristling when others quickly run to the courts sounds a bit one-sided.

Write about anything, approve comments you deem worthy of approval. It is, afterall, your web site.

Others can *threaten* to take legal action against you, or even actually do take legal action against you. Afterall, it’s their name/image/corporate brand.

You can take legal action against them, or get lawyers to help you find legal remedies. Afterall, it’s your right.

Let the bloggers blog, and the complainants sue and be counter-sued. Patas lang, di ba?

You are correct that I had the power to delete it anytime I wished. In the same vein, Jaypee is also incorrect that I should not be held responsible for comments posted on my blog, since I approve them.

However, Epixtar’s argument lies in that I am in cahoots with Karl/Gary commenter in maligning their company via that action. This seems to be the key argument in suing those who allow its posting.

I maintain (and it’s obvious enough), that the comment looked innocent and so therefore I approved it. I had no intention of maligning, defending, or otherwise helping anyone out via doing so.

As for the delay in removing it, this was unintentional, and was due only to my unavailability at the time to do so. Also, that letter sender did not reply to my request to completely identify who he is.

Bottomline: Just because someone says something on your site offends him doesn’t mean you’ll delete it at his whim, and just because someone hesitated to delete it doesn’t mean you should run to the courts asap.

Thank you very much Yuga!

I notice the line: “As I previously informed you…”

It appears he was previously asked to delete the comment about the salary information. Since he did not act on the previous communication, talk veered towards legal action.

Just curious… if a commenter posted your confidential information on someone else’s blog, wouldn’t you want to have it removed? And if the blog owner refuses to remove it (for whatever reason), don’t you also have the right to seek redress against the blog owner?

And if you, the blogger, feel that strongly about keeping certain info on your web site, then be prepared to pay the cost (both in terms of time and money) of keeping that info online.

In this case, why doesn’t the Commenter put up his/her own web site at Blogspot, for example? Gary can then point a link to that site if wishes.

I received, via registered mail, a “Bigfoot Letter” in the past from some law firm complaining about an entry I wrote. My entry did not name any names, and it was about an industry which has many players. My lawyer said we can win easily…

…and it would cost me only P30,000. Presyong magpinsan pa yan, ha.

I deleted the “bothersome” blind item paragraphs from my entry, and saved P30,000. Less than a year later, the complainant’s company closed down.

Bottomline: When someone complains about something that appears on your blog, the person who has the power to delete the info is ultimately responsible for it.

maybe they should have gone around asking nicely first that the comments be removed without having to mention the “We will sue” part and offending the sight owners in the process.