Comments on: Legal implications of social media http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/ At the corner of Academia and Practice Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:31:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Podcasting Lesson: Teaching Instructions and Step-By-Step Directions « The PR Post http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-2132 Podcasting Lesson: Teaching Instructions and Step-By-Step Directions « The PR Post Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:42:50 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-2132 [...] Bill Handy, Oklahoma State University, a favorite blog post: social media and the law [...] [...] Bill Handy, Oklahoma State University, a favorite blog post: social media and the law [...]

]]> By: Kathy Nygaard http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1954 Kathy Nygaard Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:32:53 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1954 I agree with Cindy. People need to remember they are being watched and they are responsible for what they post. I think people get careless sometimes. The "it depends" comment does leave a lot of room for judgments that depends on content and how the content affects others. I agree with Cindy. People need to remember they are being watched and they are responsible for what they post. I think people get careless sometimes. The “it depends” comment does leave a lot of room for judgments that depends on content and how the content affects others.

]]> By: Cindy Downes http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1950 Cindy Downes Sat, 22 Aug 2009 13:03:45 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1950 I found this blog/video very interesting even though there were a lot of "it depends!" It does remind one to be honest, not to take advantage of employers, and be careful what you write about on social media. Thanks for the info. I found this blog/video very interesting even though there were a lot of “it depends!” It does remind one to be honest, not to take advantage of employers, and be careful what you write about on social media. Thanks for the info.

]]> By: Jessica Miller-Merrell http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1936 Jessica Miller-Merrell Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:23:40 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1936 Bill, Good post. Businesses and professionals who use social media as part of a branding or business strategy need to be aware of the legal pitfalls. This area of law is in its infancy and still developing. Jessica Miller-Merrell www.blogging4jobs.com Bill,

Good post. Businesses and professionals who use social media as part of a branding or business strategy need to be aware of the legal pitfalls. This area of law is in its infancy and still developing.

Jessica Miller-Merrell
http://www.blogging4jobs.com

]]> By: Bill Handy http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1933 Bill Handy Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:24:16 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1933 thanks for the reminder on the date change - taken care of although the legal implications of simply having the copyright vs. actually copyrighting it with the feds is pretty significant. Memo to myself... Re opinion, bottom line is to simply be aware of the standards/definition of libel and, if you feel like pushing the issue, the defenses. Re your blog, if you are starting a new one I think it is we who should be scared, not you... As always, thanks for your comments - so long as they don't get me in trouble... thanks for the reminder on the date change – taken care of although the legal implications of simply having the copyright vs. actually copyrighting it with the feds is pretty significant. Memo to myself…

Re opinion, bottom line is to simply be aware of the standards/definition of libel and, if you feel like pushing the issue, the defenses.

Re your blog, if you are starting a new one I think it is we who should be scared, not you…

As always, thanks for your comments – so long as they don’t get me in trouble…

]]> By: Matt Galloway http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1928 Matt Galloway Sat, 08 Aug 2009 07:03:21 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1928 Great stuff Bill - and huge thanks to Ryan for sharing. When I was blogging heavily I was often less than kind to some brands, products, companies and even individuals. I was always careful to couch my vitriol in the form of opinion because it helped me sleep at night thinking this kept me safe from libel. Is this urban legend of does opinion save you from libel? For example, could the statement "That Bill Handy might talk a good game and his internet videos are pretty, but in my opinion he's clueless." get me in trouble? You know, if I were to make such a statement, which I'm not at liberty to confirm nor deny. What if you say something is your opinion but it feels more like a fact, like "I don't have any hard proof but In my opinion, she's cheating on her husband... with a goat." Is this save? I think lots of bloggers feel safe presenting "opinion" that feels very accusatory, especially to the person they're talking about. And while some bloggers are trying to earn equal rights as "journalist" I think most blogs fall far short of any accepted definitions of "newspaper" - although I understand that this may be less clear from a legal perspective. Definitely thought provoking. I was planning on starting a new blog this weekend, but now I'm just to scared. One last question, what if your blog has an outdated copyright notice like "Copyright 2007. Bill Handy." (see below). Does that hurt your copyright protection? Jokes aside, thanks again for a great discussion of a too often overlooked and critically important topic. -Matt Great stuff Bill – and huge thanks to Ryan for sharing. When I was blogging heavily I was often less than kind to some brands, products, companies and even individuals. I was always careful to couch my vitriol in the form of opinion because it helped me sleep at night thinking this kept me safe from libel.

Is this urban legend of does opinion save you from libel? For example, could the statement “That Bill Handy might talk a good game and his internet videos are pretty, but in my opinion he’s clueless.” get me in trouble? You know, if I were to make such a statement, which I’m not at liberty to confirm nor deny.

What if you say something is your opinion but it feels more like a fact, like “I don’t have any hard proof but In my opinion, she’s cheating on her husband… with a goat.” Is this save?

I think lots of bloggers feel safe presenting “opinion” that feels very accusatory, especially to the person they’re talking about. And while some bloggers are trying to earn equal rights as “journalist” I think most blogs fall far short of any accepted definitions of “newspaper” – although I understand that this may be less clear from a legal perspective.

Definitely thought provoking. I was planning on starting a new blog this weekend, but now I’m just to scared.

One last question, what if your blog has an outdated copyright notice like “Copyright 2007. Bill Handy.” (see below). Does that hurt your copyright protection?

Jokes aside, thanks again for a great discussion of a too often overlooked and critically important topic.

-Matt

]]> By: Bill Handy http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1927 Bill Handy Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:43:22 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1927 I think Ryan's point (in the video) is appropriate - go ahead and blog, engage in social media, do it all. It is a great outlet and should be used to its fullest. You will notice nowhere in my post do I encourage anyone to not engage or stop their efforts. But, ignorance of the law... What I hope others will take from this, especially those who have jumped on the social media expert band wagon, is there is more to it than just creating a facebook page, especially when you are playing for keeps. Bottom line, like so many elements of marketing, PR, advertising, strategic communication, etc., you have to know all the rules to play and not get hurt. I think Ryan’s point (in the video) is appropriate – go ahead and blog, engage in social media, do it all. It is a great outlet and should be used to its fullest. You will notice nowhere in my post do I encourage anyone to not engage or stop their efforts. But, ignorance of the law…

What I hope others will take from this, especially those who have jumped on the social media expert band wagon, is there is more to it than just creating a facebook page, especially when you are playing for keeps.

Bottom line, like so many elements of marketing, PR, advertising, strategic communication, etc., you have to know all the rules to play and not get hurt.

]]> By: Abby Wambaugh http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1926 Abby Wambaugh Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:34:19 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1926 oh yes, and interesting stuff. thanks for doing the leg work! oh yes, and interesting stuff. thanks for doing the leg work!

]]> By: Abby Wambaugh http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1925 Abby Wambaugh Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:33:42 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1925 re interruption: everyone's looking for their 10 seconds of fame. geez. my take, if you are looking to sue, you can make anything work. use common sense and make sure that you would be fine with anyone seeing what you post. on the other hand, take a look at www.dooce.com who got fired for her blog and now earns a living from it. ;) i do find myself second guessing my material and while i think it is good to think before you write, i sometimes think it can stifle creativity. re interruption: everyone’s looking for their 10 seconds of fame. geez.

my take, if you are looking to sue, you can make anything work. use common sense and make sure that you would be fine with anyone seeing what you post. on the other hand, take a look at http://www.dooce.com who got fired for her blog and now earns a living from it. ;)

i do find myself second guessing my material and while i think it is good to think before you write, i sometimes think it can stifle creativity.

]]> By: Bill Handy http://billhandy.com/2009/08/06/social-media-and-the-law/comment-page-1/#comment-1923 Bill Handy Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:53:53 +0000 http://billhandy.com/?p=663#comment-1923 Ryan, thank for the link and for your time. It was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to working with you in the future. Ryan, thank for the link and for your time. It was a pleasure meeting you and I look forward to working with you in the future.

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