Legal Question in Technology Law in Texas

Disclaimer regarding libel, slanderous comments made by others

I am making a website where consumers can rate (answer 5 questions) and review (personal comments about their experience with the professional/company) professionals/companies. I am going to have the rating published (the 5 questions will add up to 100 points and in turn will equal between 1 to 5 stars). I, however, need to know if I can publish the reviews without being held liable for defamation or slander. Currently, I just have a disclaimer stating that the views published on the site are not those of my company. Please let me know if you know anything about this type of situation, or if you can refer me to somebody who can answer my questions without charging me :) . Thanks.


Asked on 8/28/00, 7:58 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Disclaimer regarding libel, slanderous comments made by others

It appears to be the developing state of Internet law that the publisher of defamatory statements may be held liable for such publication in the same fashion and upon the same reasoning as newspapers are held liable for libelous publications currently.

If will not protect you to state that the views you publish to the Internet community are not your if they are in fact libelous.

Your obligation under the current state of the law is to monitor the postings and edit out questionable material or refuse to publish it.

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Answered on 10/03/00, 10:40 am


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