Blogger gets libel threat for criticising company


by Sunny Hundal    
July 24, 2010 at 8:47 pm

Earlier today Labour blogger Luke Bozier tweeted:

Gordon Brown’s WebCreator website is not befitting of a former Prime Minister. Tangent should be ashamed. http://gordonbrown.org.uk

He also blogged his opinion in a longer post saying that Tangent, the web company that does many websites for the Labour party, were “taking the Labour community for a ride”.

Within a few hours he received communication from Tangent saying:

I respectfully suggest you delete that tweet, issue no more similar ones and generally try to sell your products in a more professional way. I really don’t like the prospect of either a public slanting match or legal action, but if I need to protect my company’s business and reputation, I will.

Outrageous.

On Twitter the story has already received a lot of attention, with people using the hashtag #OffTangent.

Tangent has been criticised heavily on Twitter by libel lawyer JackofKent.

We’ll write more if there are further developments.

Coverage across blogs:
MTPT: Trafigura-esque Tangents, or A very progressive digital agency
Adam Grace: Instant Corporate Karma
Planet Jamie: Say A Website Is Poor, Get Libel Threat
Sim-O: Another opinion that isn’t up to scratch

Top Tweets
JackofKent:

Gordon Brown’s WebCreator website is not befitting of a former Prime Minister. Tangent should be ashamed. #OffTangent

Mark Stephens:

#OffTangent companies shouldn’t be able to sue for libel. As is the case in Australia.

Rowan Davies:

Libel threat for saying a website is ‘crap’? http://bit.ly/auGYr3 Wouldn’t happen if Lester’s bill were law #OffTangent #libelreform


---------------------------
      


About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
· Other posts by
Filed under
News


53 Comments || Add yours below

  • We have a tight comments policy aimed at fostering constructive debate.
  • We believe in free speech but not your right to abuse our space.
  • Abusive, sarcastic or silly comments may be deleted.
  • Misogynist, racist, homophobic and xenophobic comments will be deleted.
  • Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy.


Reader comments


1. Mr S. Pill

What the actual fuck. Are we now officially Airstrip One or something?

2. handandmouse

It would appear that Tangent Plc, despite claiming on their website to: “combine technological expertise with marketing know-how”, haven’t heard of the Streisand effect.

#OffTangent
#prfail

3. Mr S. Pill

Anyone mentioned Arkell v Pressdram yet?

I’ll get me coat…

4. GB

I wouldn’t use them. And if they get criticism why not just defend themselves through pointing out how their websites work well and deliver results? Making idle threats is just a bit sad and suggests a lack of confidence in their own work (which I don’t think is particularly good).

Mind you, I get the impression a few design companies have cornered the parties’ web design markets. Lib Dems seem obsessed with Prater Raines, which is truly awful.

5. Flowerpower

Publishers of old-fashioned dead tree based media get this every day. Literally every day in some sectors. Libel reform is overdue.

6. rodos

What happened to freedom of expression in this country??

7. Cynical/Realist?

You miss out the part when the guy is hawking his own web design prducts. In my view, no matter how small you are, if you compete with a company you don’t tweet criticisms of your competitors. Especially when behind the scenes you are offering your own services to the people who’s sites you are attacking. Anyone else, fire away on twitter or elsewher, but if you are a competitor its just shoddy.

8. Dave

@6 – Nothing, thats why he was able to write it on twitter, its also why someone else is free to reply to him.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  2. Sam Chong

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  3. Linda_Marric

    RT @libcon Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3 < TEAM @LukeBozier

  4. Linda_Marric

    RT @libcon Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3 < TEAM @LukeBozier

  5. sunny hundal

    Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  6. Mr Omneo

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  7. Mr Omneo

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  8. Jonathan Calder

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  9. Jonathan Calder

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  10. ANDY MORRIS

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  11. Mike Blakeney

    “@sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about GB's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent” (@clairee_french)

  12. Andrea Gill

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  13. TenPercent

    RT @libcon Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown’s site http://bit.ly/9aVuqc

  14. Marc Tessier-Ashpool

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  15. Andrew Reeves

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  16. Tony Burkson

    RT @sunny_hundal:Labour blogger(@LukeBozier) gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  17. Stephen Mullen

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  18. nobby-Lobby

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  19. John Burgin

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  20. Stephen Mullen

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  21. santi_girl

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  22. rowan davies

    Libel threat for saying a website is 'crap'? http://bit.ly/auGYr3 Wouldn't happen if Lester's bill were law #OffTangent #libelreform

  23. Phoebe Paxton

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  24. Derek Bryant

    RT @libcon Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  25. Ian

    RT @libcon Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown’s site http://bit.ly/9aVuqc

  26. oliver shykles

    RT @libcon Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown’s site http://bit.ly/9aVuqc #OffTangent

  27. caronmlindsay

    RT @andyreeves: RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  28. D.L.

    RT @andyreeves: RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  29. Luke Bosman

    “@libcon: Blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3” Would that be because the site is crap?

  30. Chris Preston

    RT @rowandavies: Libel threat for saying a website is 'crap'? http://bit.ly/auGYr3 Wouldn't happen if Lester's bill were law #OffTangent …

  31. Robert Halfon

    RT @NoetiCat: RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  32. B Latif

    RT @libcon: #Labour #blogger gets #libel threat for #tweeting about #GordonBrown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  33. Tom Morrison

    OMG read this RT @andyreeves: RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  34. Paul Sagar

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  35. Vitzliputzli

    RT @sunny_hundal: Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  36. Tara B

    RT @sunny_hundal Labour blogger gets libel threat for writing about Gordon Brown's web company http://bit.ly/auGYr3 #OffTangent

  37. Start Up Now

    Blogger gets libel threat for criticising company | Liberal Conspiracy: Blogger gets libel threat for critic… http://tinyurl.com/3a4dg4w

  38. alysyn curd

    Blogger gets libel threat for criticising company | Liberal Conspiracy: Blogger gets libel thr… http://bit.ly/9w5jCL & artimpactnetpr.com

  39. Teresa Cairns

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  40. Fiona Laird

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  41. Mags W

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  42. caebrwyn

    RT @libcon: Labour blogger gets libel threat for tweeting about Gordon Brown's site http://bit.ly/auGYr3

  43. A mixture of news, views and pictures from Scotland – Scottish Roundup

    [...] we are on the sticky subject of copyright within blog posts etc, this post titled Blogger gets libel threat for criticising website caught my eye via twitter last night about Gordon Brown MPs [...]

  44. The Sociological Imagination | The disciplinary force of new media?

    [...] since started to grow through new media. It’s trending on Twitter. More coverage of it here, here and here. In my mind this a perfect example of the emancipatory force of new media: it partially [...]

  45. Luke Bozier

    @ConfusedLiberal @sunny_hundal if they threaten to sue you then you've really p'd them off! http://bit.ly/bjU5mb





  • We have a tight comments policy aimed at fostering constructive debate.
  • We believe in free speech but not your right to abuse our space.
  • Abusive, sarcastic or silly comments may be deleted.
  • Misogynist, racist, homophobic and xenophobic comments will be deleted.
  • Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy.

 
Liberal Conspiracy is the UK's most popular left-of-centre politics blog. Our aim is to re-vitalise the liberal-left through discussion and action. More about us here.

You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or RSS feed. You can also get them by email and through our Facebook group.
RECENT OPINION ARTICLES




ConservativeHome shoots Andrew Lansley
13 Comments



Ed Mili: We need a new post-Thatcher “settlement” for Britain
21 Comments



Paediatricians Assoc. members slams NHS bill
30 Comments



Cameron: tax-breaks for butlers & nannies!
21 Comments



Exclusive: A song for ‘Fred the Shred’
13 Comments



The NHS London Risk Register that exposes Lansley
49 Comments



Ken launches new attack on Boris on police cuts
11 Comments



Nadine Dorries reports tweet ‘libel’ to police
77 Comments



Will Times hacking open a can of worms?
5 Comments



BBC Panorma u-turns on green energy claims
24 Comments



 LATEST COMMENTS
» Bob B posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Kay Fabe posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» George Hallam posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Larry posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Sally posted on ConservativeHome shoots Andrew Lansley

» x posted on Barclays was also bailed out - Diamond doesn't deserve a bonus

» Sally posted on Cameron: tax-breaks for butlers & nannies!

» Frances_coppola posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Rasputin's Handbag posted on Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles?

» Sally posted on Barclays was also bailed out - Diamond doesn't deserve a bonus

» Bob B posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Frances_coppola posted on Why Quantitative Easing doesn't make common sense

» Rasputin's Handbag posted on Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles?

» ukliberty posted on Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles?

» the a&e charge nurse posted on Abu Qatada deportation: what about our principles?