Category: defamation defences

Grant v. Torstar and the defence of responsible communication: implications for bloggers and users of other online media

Post author By Matthew Nied
Post date January 25, 2010
Categories In blogs and bloggers, Canadian law, defamation defences, internet defamation

In the recent decision of Grant v. Torstar Corp., 2009 SCC 61 (“Grant”) and its companion case, Quan v. Cusson, 2009 SCC 62 (“Quan”), the Supreme Court of Canada sought to strike a more appropriate balance between freedom of expression and the protection of reputation by creating the new defence of “responsible communication on matters […]

Distinguishing Twitter postings from other forms of communication in online defamation cases

Post author By Matthew Nied
Post date October 8, 2009
Categories In American law, defamation defences, internet anonymity, internet defamation
1 Comment on Distinguishing Twitter postings from other forms of communication in online defamation cases

The New York Times published an interesting article today about the growing number of defamation actions involving messages posted on Twitter (see: article). The article noted that the special characteristics of Twitter postings may distinguish them from other forms of online posting when it comes to defamation actions: [T]here are few prescribed social norms on […]