Caveat Lawyers!!
HOW NOT TO USE THE BLOGOSPHERE
Missteps abound in the Blogsophere and they are not just technological. They are, I fear, also generational.
The following post (Top UK Law Firm Humbled in Blogosphere) is from the UK Law and Technology Blog, Human Law.
The lesson? Canned legal warnings and preemptive legal strikes transmitted to potential adversaries who are under 35 will meet with the same shoulder-shrugging, eye-rolling, "whatever'ing" of your local teenager. Entire blog post quoted verbatim below.
Baker and McKenzie, has received some increasing(and not complimentary) attention on the blogosphere. What are the reasons for this?
It follows the pre-emptive strike written by the law firm on behalf of their client, Infront Sports and Media to the american weblog, Boing Boing. Baker and McKenzie observed that their client 'anticipates the possibility of unauthorized streaming and downloading of FIFA World Cup matches.'
The letter goes on to warn that the law firm will be 'actively monitoring your website ... to identify unlawful activity and will, if necessary, take appropriate action to ensure the protection of Infront's rights of those licenses.'
Boing Boing's response (referring to B&M's client as a "hideous company") is firm.
“Oh brother. I don't even know what the FIFA World Cup is. I'm guessing it's soccer, which I hate just as much as any other pro sport. Every editor at Boing Boing detests professional sports, and we would sooner stream a video of a crumpled up paper napkin in the corner of a room than show some jackasses running after a ball. The only time we would ever post anything about pro-sports would be to make fun of them.”
Human Law's comment?
My take on this is that most law firms do not appreciate the significance of blogs and the capacity of an organisation and individual to hit back on the web. This story is dominating the blogosphere at the moment yet still most law firms have no idea how potentially damaging blogs can be to their(and their clients) business.
Just remember, be careful out there!
Thank you for the mention, Victoria.
I think you are right to emphasize the generational point namely the attitude of people under 35.
Also younger people have a more liberal attitude to theirs and others privacy meaning they are very happy to put any material in the blogosphere.
Best wishes,
Justin