Defamatory or Libelous Content Policy (DLCP) Statement

What is defamation? What is libel?

Generally speaking, defamation is the issuance of a false statement about another person, which causes that person to suffer harm. Slander involves the making of defamatory statements by a transitory (non-fixed) representation, usually an oral (spoken) representation. Libel involves the making of defamatory statements in a printed or fixed medium, such as a magazine, newspaper or website. In simple terms, slander is defamation by speaking, and libel is defamation by means of writing. Libel is the common type of defamation that we as a service provider must deal with.

Your rights, our clients' rights, our rights, and our responsibilities

A person who publishes a defamatory statement may be liable for doing so. However, "47 U.S.C. sec. 230" states that online service providers are not publishers of content posted on their users' websites. Section 230 gives ISPs the discretion to allow customers to practice free speech or have them remove content, whichever they prefer, in response to claims by others that content is defamatory or libelous.

The Internet is a public media, therefore we believe that serious defamation issues should be resolved by public officials. Therefore, we will not request that a customer should remove or edit any website content until we receive a copy of a court order declaring the statements defamatory. This immunity does not extend to claims made under intellectual property laws, please see our DMCA section for copyright infringement cases.

Please be aware that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys' fees) if you misrepresent information listed on our site that you or your legal representation improperly declare as defamatory or libelous. We strongly suggest that you first contact an attorney for sound legal assistance on this matter before contacting us.

Written requests may be tendered to the following:

Please allow up to a week for a response upon receipt. Note that other parties with your complaint, such as our ISP, will not expedite your request and may result in a delayed response due the complaint not properly being filed and additional duties being thus required of us.