Can I legally make a website about boycotting a certain company?












5















Located in the US. Can I make a website which is specifically aimed at boycotting a certain company?



There is no lawsuit between myself and the company.



There would be no defamation on the website and no editorials or subjective content. There might be links to editorials hosted on other websites. This website content would simply be information about alternatives.



However, I would want the name of the website, including the domain name itself, to have the name of the company this is in reference to. For example (NOT the actual website: boycottstackexchange.com)










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    5















    Located in the US. Can I make a website which is specifically aimed at boycotting a certain company?



    There is no lawsuit between myself and the company.



    There would be no defamation on the website and no editorials or subjective content. There might be links to editorials hosted on other websites. This website content would simply be information about alternatives.



    However, I would want the name of the website, including the domain name itself, to have the name of the company this is in reference to. For example (NOT the actual website: boycottstackexchange.com)










    share|improve this question









    New contributor




    Frown is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      5












      5








      5








      Located in the US. Can I make a website which is specifically aimed at boycotting a certain company?



      There is no lawsuit between myself and the company.



      There would be no defamation on the website and no editorials or subjective content. There might be links to editorials hosted on other websites. This website content would simply be information about alternatives.



      However, I would want the name of the website, including the domain name itself, to have the name of the company this is in reference to. For example (NOT the actual website: boycottstackexchange.com)










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Frown is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      Located in the US. Can I make a website which is specifically aimed at boycotting a certain company?



      There is no lawsuit between myself and the company.



      There would be no defamation on the website and no editorials or subjective content. There might be links to editorials hosted on other websites. This website content would simply be information about alternatives.



      However, I would want the name of the website, including the domain name itself, to have the name of the company this is in reference to. For example (NOT the actual website: boycottstackexchange.com)







      united-states website






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      Frown is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      share|improve this question









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      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 6 hours ago









      David Siegel

      9,9441641




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      asked 7 hours ago









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          1 Answer
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          11














          Yes you can, and you can even include "editorials or subjective content". However, if you include factual statements, or words that imply factual statements, the company could claim that they are false, and therefore defamatory. Indeed they might claim that in any case. If you make no false statements of fact, they should not be able to win a defamation suit, but you might need to spend time and money defending yourself if they choose to sue.



          The detailed rules on defamation vary by jurisdiction, in the US by state. But in no US state can defamation be found against a person who neither made nor implied a false statement of fact.



          Use of the name of the company, along with "boycott" as in "BoycottXYXCorp.com" would not infringe any trademark XYZ might have. It is clearly Nominative use, as no one could reasonably believe that such a site was run by, sponsored, or endorsed by XYZ. Again, XYZ could always sue, even if they are highly likely to lose quickly.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 3





            Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

            – IllusiveBrian
            3 hours ago











          • It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

            – chrylis
            45 mins ago






          • 1





            @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

            – Aethenosity
            33 mins ago











          • wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

            – Flying Thunder
            6 mins ago











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          1 Answer
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          active

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          1 Answer
          1






          active

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          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

          votes









          11














          Yes you can, and you can even include "editorials or subjective content". However, if you include factual statements, or words that imply factual statements, the company could claim that they are false, and therefore defamatory. Indeed they might claim that in any case. If you make no false statements of fact, they should not be able to win a defamation suit, but you might need to spend time and money defending yourself if they choose to sue.



          The detailed rules on defamation vary by jurisdiction, in the US by state. But in no US state can defamation be found against a person who neither made nor implied a false statement of fact.



          Use of the name of the company, along with "boycott" as in "BoycottXYXCorp.com" would not infringe any trademark XYZ might have. It is clearly Nominative use, as no one could reasonably believe that such a site was run by, sponsored, or endorsed by XYZ. Again, XYZ could always sue, even if they are highly likely to lose quickly.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 3





            Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

            – IllusiveBrian
            3 hours ago











          • It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

            – chrylis
            45 mins ago






          • 1





            @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

            – Aethenosity
            33 mins ago











          • wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

            – Flying Thunder
            6 mins ago
















          11














          Yes you can, and you can even include "editorials or subjective content". However, if you include factual statements, or words that imply factual statements, the company could claim that they are false, and therefore defamatory. Indeed they might claim that in any case. If you make no false statements of fact, they should not be able to win a defamation suit, but you might need to spend time and money defending yourself if they choose to sue.



          The detailed rules on defamation vary by jurisdiction, in the US by state. But in no US state can defamation be found against a person who neither made nor implied a false statement of fact.



          Use of the name of the company, along with "boycott" as in "BoycottXYXCorp.com" would not infringe any trademark XYZ might have. It is clearly Nominative use, as no one could reasonably believe that such a site was run by, sponsored, or endorsed by XYZ. Again, XYZ could always sue, even if they are highly likely to lose quickly.






          share|improve this answer





















          • 3





            Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

            – IllusiveBrian
            3 hours ago











          • It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

            – chrylis
            45 mins ago






          • 1





            @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

            – Aethenosity
            33 mins ago











          • wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

            – Flying Thunder
            6 mins ago














          11












          11








          11







          Yes you can, and you can even include "editorials or subjective content". However, if you include factual statements, or words that imply factual statements, the company could claim that they are false, and therefore defamatory. Indeed they might claim that in any case. If you make no false statements of fact, they should not be able to win a defamation suit, but you might need to spend time and money defending yourself if they choose to sue.



          The detailed rules on defamation vary by jurisdiction, in the US by state. But in no US state can defamation be found against a person who neither made nor implied a false statement of fact.



          Use of the name of the company, along with "boycott" as in "BoycottXYXCorp.com" would not infringe any trademark XYZ might have. It is clearly Nominative use, as no one could reasonably believe that such a site was run by, sponsored, or endorsed by XYZ. Again, XYZ could always sue, even if they are highly likely to lose quickly.






          share|improve this answer















          Yes you can, and you can even include "editorials or subjective content". However, if you include factual statements, or words that imply factual statements, the company could claim that they are false, and therefore defamatory. Indeed they might claim that in any case. If you make no false statements of fact, they should not be able to win a defamation suit, but you might need to spend time and money defending yourself if they choose to sue.



          The detailed rules on defamation vary by jurisdiction, in the US by state. But in no US state can defamation be found against a person who neither made nor implied a false statement of fact.



          Use of the name of the company, along with "boycott" as in "BoycottXYXCorp.com" would not infringe any trademark XYZ might have. It is clearly Nominative use, as no one could reasonably believe that such a site was run by, sponsored, or endorsed by XYZ. Again, XYZ could always sue, even if they are highly likely to lose quickly.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 6 hours ago

























          answered 7 hours ago









          David SiegelDavid Siegel

          9,9441641




          9,9441641








          • 3





            Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

            – IllusiveBrian
            3 hours ago











          • It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

            – chrylis
            45 mins ago






          • 1





            @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

            – Aethenosity
            33 mins ago











          • wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

            – Flying Thunder
            6 mins ago














          • 3





            Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

            – IllusiveBrian
            3 hours ago











          • It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

            – chrylis
            45 mins ago






          • 1





            @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

            – Aethenosity
            33 mins ago











          • wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

            – Flying Thunder
            6 mins ago








          3




          3





          Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

          – IllusiveBrian
          3 hours ago





          Depending on the state, if the company filed a claim it knew it would lose for the purpose of wasting the defendent's resources, the defendant could retaliate with an anti-SLAPP lawsuit to recover damages and attorney's fees.

          – IllusiveBrian
          3 hours ago













          It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

          – chrylis
          45 mins ago





          It might be useful to include the now-established practice of XYZsucks.com.

          – chrylis
          45 mins ago




          1




          1





          @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

          – Aethenosity
          33 mins ago





          @IllusiveBrian that is true, but you only recover the resources AFTERWARDS iirc. So it may still be tough going for a bit.

          – Aethenosity
          33 mins ago













          wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

          – Flying Thunder
          6 mins ago





          wait - you need to spend time and money on something like this in the US? I would have though that if its obvious the lawsuit of the company has no ground, you wouldnt have to fear losing money - at least in germany, the one who loses the lawsuit has to pay for the costs, as far as i know

          – Flying Thunder
          6 mins ago










          Frown is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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