Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car
High School principal sues students over fake MySpace page
A high school principal in western Pennsylvania is suing four former students who allegedly created a fake MySpace profile for the principal. He claims the page, which stated that he smoked pot, kept a keg of beer behind his desk, enjoyed pornography, and had sex with students, hurt his reputation and earning potential.One of the students was suspended after the principal first learned of the profile. That student sued, saying the MySpace page was protected speech under the First Amendment.
Now the principal, who is currently at a different school is suing back for unspecified damages.
The thing is, it's awfully easy to create a fake MySpace page. It's probably too much to expect that anyone who fears they may be defamed in some way would create their own page first as a preemptive measure. But maybe we just need to not take things written on websites any more seriously than notes scrawled in bathroom stalls.
[via Techdirt]
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsPhilApr 10th 2007 10:03AM
But maybe we just need to not take things written on websites any more seriously than notes scrawled in bathroom stalls.?
Is it my imagination or have I seen numerous articles in the past detailing how Hiring Departments of companies have routinely passed on applicants based on what their blog/MySpace pages say about them? This guy has the basis for a good libel suit, I think.
Scott McLeodApr 10th 2007 10:04AM
Readers interested in this post might also want to view my online presentation, The Administrator's Guide to Cyberbullying, at
http://tinyurl.com/2ynpvz
in which I discuss the fact that all but one of the cases so far on this topic have gone against the school...
BanquoApr 10th 2007 10:04AM
Since when is slander protected speech? I think the little nitwit is soon going to find that out.
alison mcnairApr 10th 2007 2:11PM
Well i dont think the principal should have sued the students because lots of kids joke and make rude and untrue statements about facualty at their school! Then again the students should have never posted those comments on the internet!
BertApr 10th 2007 3:00PM
I think it's time to put them on double secret probation!
DApr 11th 2007 12:03PM
The principal should have a case. The students deserve to be punished by the courts for slander. They need to be taught a lesson.