Summoned by NBI for a libel suit on a forum

I got the subpoena last Monday and it came from the National Bureau of Investigation which is investigating an alleged libel in a forum I used to help manage.

Actually, the summons was a little cryptic so I really didn’t know much about it until today after the meeting at the NBI Cybercrime and Fraud Division office. My initial impression was that this was part of another existing lawsuit we have right now (an almost similar one) so I had to have my lawyers present as well.

Apparently, some members of the forum were posting allegedly libelous statements in the message boards against a huge real-estate company. They claim that these statements have affected their worldwide sales which is why they’re hunting down the ones who posted those messages.

Though it turned out to be some mis-understanding and my name was just included because I was part of the forum many years back. I no longer have any involvement with that site for such a long time so we just had to send in an affidavit to formalize that and close it from my end.

My friend who still runs that site up to now was with me in the meeting and he’s willing to cooperate with NBI if the complainants want to pursue the case.

So, while this one is a relief for me, I’m still up in a legal battle on another case. Another story for another day. Ahh, and I thought it’s only in the US where people file cases to milk some money off other people.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

13 Comments

SELaplana says:

18 years ago

isa itong klase sa negosyo, ang idemenda ang isang kompanyapara kikita ng pera.
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Obet says:

18 years ago

Libel for a post in a forum? That is stupid.
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Blog Box says:

18 years ago

This is where a good AUP and disclaimer clause for comments for a blog or a regular website comes in ;-)
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markku says:

18 years ago

Name of company? Hehehe.
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Icky says:

18 years ago

Hmmmm…. just made a note to myself to always express an opinion whenever I post derogatory comments in blogs, then they can’t sue.

something like “I think that real estate company doesn’t really have a good product for them to run after bloggers to protect their business. I also think that they’re being stupid to have a business model that relies on running after these people (to protect their sales?). If I’m the owner of that business I’d fire the guy who came up with the idea and if I’m the stupid guy who came up with the idea, i’d relinquish day to day operations to someone competent!” He he he.
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elmer says:

18 years ago

“They claim that these statements have affected their worldwide sales which is why theyâ€™re hunting down the ones who posted those messages.”

This is great idea, and they believed that this lawsuit might help boost their worldwide sales?? i won’t be surprise if one of this days this story would end up in my in-box or in another blog. What dumb excuse IMO!
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JC John SESE Cuneta says:

18 years ago

Icky, they can still sue you.

One piece of advice to all. Never use the word “Disclaimer” it is NON-EXISTENT and NOT HONORED.

The use of disclaimer started with fansites and illegal sharing of mp3s. The open-source community and gaming communities started to use the word. Soon, other newly born net companies started using that word too.

But even after 10 years of usage, the word “disclaimer” is still not being honored and is non-existent in any laws around the world.

Use another word, just not the word “disclaimer”. Even so, people with “money” can sue you if they want to, they have attorneys who will bend the law just to milk money from you.

Especially in the Philippines… it all comes down to your network and connections, that’s our society.
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coifieninop says:

16 years ago

MESSAGE
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melpflams says:

16 years ago

MESSAGE
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kenshin says:

11 years ago

Is there such in thing as libel case in forum? EVen in forum section, is no one safe? Why? What the heck are they trying to run their money just to catch this poor?
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