Can I legally make a website about boycotting a certain company?
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
New contributor
add a comment |
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
New contributor
add a comment |
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
New contributor
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
united-states website
New contributor
New contributor
edited 6 hours ago
David Siegel
9,9441641
9,9441641
New contributor
asked 7 hours ago
FrownFrown
1285
1285
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
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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.
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
add a comment |
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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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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
add a comment |
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.
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.
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
add a comment |
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
add a comment |
Frown is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Frown is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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