Just reading this article, where “A real estate agent in Houston who blogged about Anna Nicole Smith was jailed for contempt last week in a defamation case brought by the late Playboy model’s mother.”
She didn’t even blog about it in the traditional sense (it wasn’t her own blog), she’s being sued “…for comments posted on someone else’s blog to pass the time.”
How far can the “defamation” laws can stretch…e.g. how long until someone (lets say Krugman) sues someone else for “defaming” them because of the comments on their blog? Not only that, but the courts ordered the seizure of her computer as well…this could be an effective way for the state to stop vocal opponents.
I’m actually stunned. It just seems so ridiculous to have your property seized because of a comment you wrote on a blog. I can’t believe the court went through with that.
"AN Indonesian mother-of-two who sent an email to friends complaining about her treatment at a local hospital was charged with defamation and faces six years’ jail.
Prita Mulyasari, 32, was charged under the criminal code in Tangerang district court, outside Jakarta, after her emails were circulated on mailing lists and Facebook.
The bank worker also faces a fine of $125,000 if found guilty of defaming Omni International Hospital, in a case which has captured the attention of the nation.
Arrested on May 13, Ms Mulyasari has already been fined $37,500 under the civil code.
She spent three weeks in custody without charge until public outrage at her detention forced authorities to release her on Wednesday and bring her before the courts to face the new, harsher charges under criminal law."