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Legal Issues

by Carlo Longino


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MySpace Accused Of Trampling Man's Right To 'Use Site In Peace'

from the ooooooooooooookay... dept

MySpace is at the center of another free-speech case, only this time it's the one that's alleged to be doing the infringing. A Missouri man has sued MySpace (unsurprisingly, pro se) for infringing his freedom of speech by "arbitrarily deleting TWO profiles" established by the man and a host of other complaints, including violating his "freedom to use the social networking site in peace". We're still looking through our copy of the Constitution to find the part about the right to use social-networking services, but maybe we've got an old version. Never mind that we thought the part about freedom of speech really only applied to the government; we weren't aware that it also meant private companies had to provide anyone and everyone with a platform to speak, and ensure it conforms to that person's every wish. They guy's stolen a few pages out of MySpace founder Brad Greenspan's playbook, and his blog-comment threats to bankrupt MySpace, bulldoze its headquarters and turn the area into a housing estate -- and then to sway Fox News' coverage even further to the right -- would seem to suggest that this case will meet the same kind of response as Greenspan's.

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  1. Learn your rights people...

    by Casper - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 7:35am

    People throw around the craziest things and call them "rights" or they claim random things under a right which it does not really fall. Claiming that MySpace violated his freedom of speech is like saying you were thrown out of a store for swearing at the clerk. It is their right to refuse service to anyone they wish (Per the agreement you "agree" to when you use services or enter a private business). Maybe he should have read the parts of the Terms & Conditions that say " MySpace.com may terminate your Membership at any time, without warning."

    Someone should really start teaching these people what rights they have and do not have. This is almost as bad as all the people I encounter who believe it is their "right" to drive a car on the highway (Of course most of those people also believe they should be allowed to do so even at the risk of other drivers).

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. F U Bob

    by Baddog357 - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 7:52am

    Is it just me or did the last part of this story make no sense? What does "and then to sway Fox News' coverage even further to the right" have to do with anything?

    Anyway I would think MySpace is just like any other business. They have the right to refuse service to anyone they want and do not need to provide an explanation. Unless it is based on some form of discrimination.

    BTW, Fuck you Bob. Whaahooo you were 1st, BFD!! Next time try adding something intelligent to your comment or SHUT THE FUCK UP!! It's assholes like you that make the trains run late.

    Thank you.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. sue for what?

    by Ched Davis - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:06am

    I'm still just not getting it. How do you sue someone who gives you something for free. I read about it all the time, but it's not like you actually "pay" anyone for a myspace page. .... unless the site is "posting" derogitory information about someone that's liablous (sp) .. (not true) - what can you sue for?

    Oh well, thanks for letting me blow off a little steam from my 'not too bright' little mind.

    ched

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. by The Swiss Cheese Monster - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:09am

    Wait, wouldn't his destruction of MySpace limit other ppl's freedom of speech?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. New version! Hooray!

    by lukewarmfusion - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:20am

    Clearly, you need to upgrade to Constitution 2.0. In the latest version, you can make amendments with Ajax, bypassing the round trips to Congress. C2.0, as it's affectionately known, has dropped the worn parchment look for rounded corners and soft gradients.

    Constitution 2.0, brought to you by Legislatr.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. People are so dumb

    by Kerry Garrison - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:22am

    They really need to teach basic rights in school these days. Saying you have the right to post something on someone else's website is akin to saying you have the right to come over to my house and spraypaint graffite on my walls because its your freedom of speech. Guess what folks, its my private property and your freedom of speech does not negate my personal property rights wether its my house or my website.

    I have had posts from nut cases like this in forums I have run for years, when you delete their posts they start crying about freedom of speech or their rights to post. BS! Its my site, its my property, I control what is put there.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. MySpace

    by SPR - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:26am

    Everyone has the right to be an idiot.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Lol way funny

    by Fabiolus - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:37am

    Must be an American seem they like to sue for broken nails or other stupidity.

    Get a life!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Same #$&! Different Day

    by Annoyed - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:39am

    This person's obvious misunderstanding of a "right" reminds me of the Dixie Chicks episode. When radio stations refused to air their songs or when other would rail on them for their statements, their supporters would often cry out "They have the right to say blah blah blah".

    BTW, LukeWarm, very funny. Made me laugh out loud in class.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. by Guru80 - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:51am

    You have to blame these money hungry attorney's as well. They are only willing to represent these moronic cases because they know fair well that judges and juries are as dumb as the guy making the case and are likely to twist the law to fit the circumstance.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. Re: Lol way funny

    by Matt - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:53am

    thanks for yet another stereotypical and otherwise useless comment.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. by Jack Sombra - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 8:58am

    Be very amusing if he won, every web site/discussion board/blog that allows viewer comments would have to move overseas because they would not longer be allowed to moderate nor ban/block people

    Would like to think there would be absolutly zero chance of him winning but with some of the crazy judgements coming out of the US courts these days.....

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. by JBoogie - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 9:03am

    It is time (although I don't think he has a case now) to have some sort of "bill of rights" for the relationship building aspects he cites.

    Although I must admit, as a skeptic of the net as a way to really build true relationships, that it's kinda funny to have 900+ "friends" only to have them nuked lol.

    Plus--c'mon--35 on MySpace? How creepy is that?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. Re:

    by Casper - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 9:18am

    "It is time (although I don't think he has a case now) to have some sort of "bill of rights" for the relationship building aspects he cites."

    If you had a real relationship with those people, they would know who you are.

    Having "friends" on MySpace is like having been briefly introduced to someone on the street or at a bar. You don't really know them unless you have met them and actually spent time to get to know them. There is no need for a bill of rights to protect the user when they violate the terms of service. At that point they are revoking your use of their product, not shooting all your friends. If they are real friends then they should have other methods to contact you.

    The sad part is people consider adding someone to their "friends list" on MySpace to be an actual relationship or a real friend. I have a MySpace page and it only has friends that I ACTUALLY KNOW in the real world. The Only reason I have a profile is so that we can leave messages or share pictures and videos... although I don't use it very often.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. Re: Re: Lol way funny

    by Fabiolus - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 9:19am

    Hey Matt dont I have freedom of speech too?

    lol

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  16. Give it a rest

    by Arsepayne - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 9:21am

    How can you trample on the rights of an individual when you have to abide by the rules of the Site. Some of the rules have been broken and it is the right of the Domain owner to enforce the rights as they see fit.

    Literally, it like me allowing someone to use my car to go to the store no where else. I find out that you the user have used it for other purposes such as Buying drugs. I now have the right to terminate you use of the car. SAME THING. Who rules the sites rules you don't like it go somewhere else!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  17. by stghm - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 10:16am

    MySpace isn't the government

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  18. Re: Re: Re: Lol way funny

    by Matt - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:01am

    possibly not if you're not American...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  19. anal sex

    by vintage coronado - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:07am

    so this woman goes to her DR. and she's telling him how her husband suddenly has a new fixation for anal sex. the Dr. asks her "does it hurt, does it bother you?", she replies no. she actually enjoys it.
    so the Dr. tells her, "but i were you i will use proctection, after all you don't want to get pregnant". the woman was like "wtf you can get pregnant from the ass?". "yes" replied the Dr. "where do you think lawyers come from?"

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  20. subject

    by name - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:07am

    Atleast its not another predator case.

    Facebook...woo hoo!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  21. Re: Learn your rights people...

    by DRW - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:11am

    You need to go back and learn your rights.

    Own a business and try to say that a person has the right to smoke there. Even though the city/county did not put a single cent into it, they think they have that right.

    If you do not like it because they allow smoking, don't go there.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  22. Scarry

    by Witty Nickname - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:32am

    That guy probably votes.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  23. ... a good start.

    by The infamous Joe - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:44am

    Now, I enjoy lawyer jokes just as much as the next guy, but this isn't the case to say silly things like "don't blame him, blame his laywer" because, as is stated above by Carlo, this guy is representing himself.

    As for non-smoking in public places, I don't own a business or anything, but I believe a business license is required to do such things, hence why you can let people smoke in your house (if you like to watch white things turn yellow) and not your business. If you allow smoking and it's not permitted, you lose a license or probably get a fine. Not that has anything to do with this.

    As for the actual article, so quoteth from the Terms and Conditions at myspace.com:

    MySpace.com reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject, refuse to post or remove any posting (including private messages) by you, or to restrict, suspend, or terminate your access to all or any part of the MySpace Services at any time, for any or no reason, with or without prior notice, and without liability. MySpace expressly reserves the right to remove your profile and/or restrict, suspend, or terminate your access to any part of MySpace Services if MySpace determines, in its sole discretion, that you pose a threat to MySpace and/or its Users.


    Seems pretty clear to me. Case closed.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  24. Re:

    by asdf - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 11:56am

    "You have to blame these money hungry attorney's as well" - Guru80

    It says right in the summary he's doing it pro se, that means he's representing himself.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  25. Re:

    by Norm - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 12:05pm

    Ummm.... What is creepy about a 35 year old on myspace? You do know it's not a place just for teens right? Yeah the media makes it out to be a place for kids but....

    Man talk about not knowing what you are talking about....

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  26. Re: ... a good start.

    by Jan Lauwers - Apr 12th, 2007 @ 1:53pm

    it might seem a closed case based on what you quote....which is a quote from the terms as they are now however, "MySpace expressly reserves the right to remove your profile and/or restrict, suspend, or terminate your access to any part of MySpace Services if MySpace determines, in its sole discretion, that you pose a threat to MySpace and/or its Users." was added within the last 24 hours

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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