what ever happened to freedom of speech?
Discussion
blackburnlad said:
i started reading a thread yesterday but had to go out when i got back home this morning i refreshed my browser to find the thread has been removed
IBTL 
This isn't a public space, so there's no such thing. Ted and co. are perfectly within their rights to remove anything they're not happy with, for any reason or none, and are not obliged to justify it (although they almost always do - check your email!).
Seems we had a few post about free speech removed late night, just to set the record straight.
There is no such thing as freedom of speech on PH, there wasn't in Ted's days and there isn't now.
Someone somewhere has to stand up and be accountable for what is posted on PH, that responsibility rests with the owners of the site.
Haymarket have been involved in many court cases that has cost them many 100's of 1000's of pounds since they purchased the site, primarily involved with naming and shaming issues.
So we mods will edit, or delete anything we feel is contentious, or we feel may come back and "bite us in the rear" so to speak.
Freedom of speech threads usually don't last very long in W/F as it gets a little tiresome keep stating that it doesn't exist, they are usually associated to why has my thread been removed?
Threads/posts have been removed for a reason and in the main an email is always sent to the OP with a reason for the removal, however we can't say exactly where in your mail system it will end up, it might end up in your spam or trash folder. You might need to have a hunt around but they are sent.
HTH explain.
There is no such thing as freedom of speech on PH, there wasn't in Ted's days and there isn't now.
Someone somewhere has to stand up and be accountable for what is posted on PH, that responsibility rests with the owners of the site.
Haymarket have been involved in many court cases that has cost them many 100's of 1000's of pounds since they purchased the site, primarily involved with naming and shaming issues.
So we mods will edit, or delete anything we feel is contentious, or we feel may come back and "bite us in the rear" so to speak.
Freedom of speech threads usually don't last very long in W/F as it gets a little tiresome keep stating that it doesn't exist, they are usually associated to why has my thread been removed?
Threads/posts have been removed for a reason and in the main an email is always sent to the OP with a reason for the removal, however we can't say exactly where in your mail system it will end up, it might end up in your spam or trash folder. You might need to have a hunt around but they are sent.
HTH explain.
) if you dont like it go elsewhere10 Pence Short said:
Haymarket have lost court cases regarding Pistonheads, costing them hundreds of thousands of pounds?
I doubt it.
More likely is that Haymarket have had threat of legal action from various sources and have taken a view that it may be better to settle than to fight in court.
What Al said was correct - we have been involved with legal action which has cost hundreds of thousands since we bought PH. As is often the case, the number of times we've actually been in court is precisely zero (so far, and long may that be the case) but the cost of defending even up until that point is incredibly expensive and time consuming.I doubt it.
More likely is that Haymarket have had threat of legal action from various sources and have taken a view that it may be better to settle than to fight in court.
So as Al said, we have rules to protect us from legal action, PHers from abuse and companies from having their reputations defamed. I realise that these rules sometimes clash with posters' perceived right to say whatever they want here, but it is a necessary evil to ensure that we stay in business I'm afraid.
Stuart said:
10 Pence Short said:
Haymarket have lost court cases regarding Pistonheads, costing them hundreds of thousands of pounds?
I doubt it.
More likely is that Haymarket have had threat of legal action from various sources and have taken a view that it may be better to settle than to fight in court.
What Al said was correct - we have been involved with legal action which has cost hundreds of thousands since we bought PH. As is often the case, the number of times we've actually been in court is precisely zero (so far, and long may that be the case) but the cost of defending even up until that point is incredibly expensive and time consuming.I doubt it.
More likely is that Haymarket have had threat of legal action from various sources and have taken a view that it may be better to settle than to fight in court.
So as Al said, we have rules to protect us from legal action, PHers from abuse and companies from having their reputations defamed. I realise that these rules sometimes clash with posters' perceived right to say whatever they want here, but it is a necessary evil to ensure that we stay in business I'm afraid.
Just for the sake of some anonymous poster naming and shaming.
Big Al. said:
That's not what I said! I did not say "they have lost cases" I said it has "cost them"
If a case goes to trial and you win, you will generally be awarded costs (unless you have acted unreasonably). This means it would not have cost Haymarket.Unless, as I have said, they have not gone to trial and Haymarket have chosen to settle before trial. In which case it was Haymarket settling, not costs of defending claims in court.
Cases involving interent forums are generally a hot legal topic in an evolving area of law, meaning new judgements are often reported. Yet there are no cases involving Pistonheads I can find anywhere, let alone those costing hundreds of thousands of pounds since 2007.
It's a risk though, and it is also a massive time thief for a team that isn't all that big.
There have been a couple of cases where I've been almost certain that we were in the right, but the potential costs mean it just isn't worth it. Other things to do, other things to spend money on...
ETA - it's also by no means certain that you'd recover costs, even if you were awarded them. Small or medium sized companies actually tend to be the ones who get really shirty over stuff posted on PH. So the costs of taking a case to court could potentially be ruinous, leading to insolvency and Haymarket being a creditor for a large amount of cash. Never usually ends well for the creditor, does it?
There have been a couple of cases where I've been almost certain that we were in the right, but the potential costs mean it just isn't worth it. Other things to do, other things to spend money on...
ETA - it's also by no means certain that you'd recover costs, even if you were awarded them. Small or medium sized companies actually tend to be the ones who get really shirty over stuff posted on PH. So the costs of taking a case to court could potentially be ruinous, leading to insolvency and Haymarket being a creditor for a large amount of cash. Never usually ends well for the creditor, does it?
Stuart said:
What Al said was correct - we have been involved with legal action which has cost hundreds of thousands since we bought PH. As is often the case, the number of times we've actually been in court is precisely zero (so far, and long may that be the case) but the cost of defending even up until that point is incredibly expensive and time consuming.
So as Al said, we have rules to protect us from legal action, PHers from abuse and companies from having their reputations defamed. I realise that these rules sometimes clash with posters' perceived right to say whatever they want here, but it is a necessary evil to ensure that we stay in business I'm afraid.
I have no issue with that thread being closed, (as I said in the thread, it was content-free, etc), but what risk is there a lawsuit, or claim by a thread like that? So as Al said, we have rules to protect us from legal action, PHers from abuse and companies from having their reputations defamed. I realise that these rules sometimes clash with posters' perceived right to say whatever they want here, but it is a necessary evil to ensure that we stay in business I'm afraid.
Edited by TheHeretic on Sunday 19th August 18:59
TheHeretic said:
Stuart said:
What Al said was correct - we have been involved with legal action which has cost hundreds of thousands since we bought PH. As is often the case, the number of times we've actually been in court is precisely zero (so far, and long may that be the case) but the cost of defending even up until that point is incredibly expensive and time consuming.
So as Al said, we have rules to protect us from legal action, PHers from abuse and companies from having their reputations defamed. I realise that these rules sometimes clash with posters' perceived right to say whatever they want here, but it is a necessary evil to ensure that we stay in business I'm afraid.
I have no issue with that thread being closed, (as I said in the thread, it was content-free, etc), but what risk is there a lawsuit, or claim by a thread like that? So as Al said, we have rules to protect us from legal action, PHers from abuse and companies from having their reputations defamed. I realise that these rules sometimes clash with posters' perceived right to say whatever they want here, but it is a necessary evil to ensure that we stay in business I'm afraid.
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