Xref: utzoo comp.sys.mac.hardware:1873 comp.dcom.modems:5321
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.dcom.modems
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Dosn't like bad recommendations (was Re: not: Where can I buy Telebit (or other modems) cheap?)
Message-ID: <1990Feb25.015708.18454@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <8377@potomac.ads.com> <1358@bridge2.ESD.3Com.COM> <1784@ursa-major.SPDCC.COM> <537@kos.rci.dk>
Date: Sun, 25 Feb 90 01:57:08 GMT

In article <537@kos.rci.dk> fk@kos.rci.dk (Fleming Kraglund) writes:
>Isn't that illegal.
>
>If I (and I mean me [or at least the write of the article]) thinks
>that a certain product dosn't deserve recommendation, but rater a
>warnning, ain't I free to say so?. (free speach and friends)

In a word, no, not necessarily.  The freedom-of-speech amendment just
prohibits laws infringing on freedom of speech (and even that prohibition
has been eaten away a bit in obscenity cases and such), i.e. it prohibits
the *government* from objecting when you say something.  There is no rule
stopping somebody else, e.g. your employer, from taking offence and doing
something legal but unfriendly, e.g. assigning you to cleaning toilets.

More specifically, you can be sued by anybody over anything.  They are
unlikely to win unless they're suing over some realistic harm done to
them, but in this case even that might be present -- that's what libel
laws are about.  There are limited exemptions for certain situations
(e.g. if you were telling the truth and can prove it), but that doesn't
stop them from suing you, it just makes it difficult for them to win.
People who are in the business of criticizing products (e.g. Consumer
Reports) or making fun of people (e.g. Mad magazine) have lawyers on
hand at all times.  (Mad gets sued so often that their lawyer is listed
on their masthead with the rest of the staff!)
-- 
"The N in NFS stands for Not, |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
or Need, or perhaps Nightmare"| uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu