http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/ Switched Comments for MySpace Diatribe Not Protected by Privacy Rights, Says California Court http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/
I'm surprised her attorney even attempted a privacy claim. That would work only if her MySpace page were hacked. The emotional distress issue is separate. Did the principal, the newspaper, and all the other actors say the equivalent of "sic 'em," and help create a mob action against her family? If they did, that should be actionable, but not the privacy claim.

Also, I would think her sister had a right to be protected in school, regardless of anything else any member of her family said or did. She's an individual with a right to a public education as long as she herself doesn't do anything to impair that. The people who threatened her had to be made to stop. I wonder how that was handled.]]>Apr 9th 2009 4:06AMhttp://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/
What were the principal or the newspaper company planning to accomplish by posting that note? To simply say "Hey, look out, this person hates the town," That really doesn't seem very news-worthy. And really, what would that accomplish them? Seriously, if they were insulted, they could have asked her themselves, instead of publishing it to the whole town before actually letting her know-- or getting her permission. It's a simple courtesy, something they obviously lack.

And the repercussions were tremendous, harassment at school, closing down of business, effectual forced relocation of living. Judging by those scornful and hateful people, this is one seriously messed up town, and I'd hate to live there myself.]]>Apr 11th 2009 12:34AMhttp://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/
Anyway, agreed that whatever's posted to the internet is posted to the public is publicly available, but I'm not entirely clear on norms for quoting private citizens or reproducing their writing or work. A MySpace or Facebook note is considered a publication to some extent, and you're not allowed to post anything copyrighted already. Now that would imply, with the "publications" and especially with copyrights being involved, that any note posted is explicitly the poster's intellectual property and thus subject to their discretion in terms of reproduction.

On the other bits I think we still pretty much agree.
Do you or anyone else know how this is handled?]]>Apr 11th 2009 12:42AMhttp://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/As far as the whole harassment, closing of business and such. I hope they win personally... that's a truly messed up town that they would create such an uproar about a tiny issue like that. I defiantly would never want to live in such a town. Furthermore, its obvious the town itself and the people in it (or at least most) dont have any respect or dignity to ruin someone's life like that... in fact they should all be ashamed of themselves.]]>Apr 11th 2009 4:45AMhttp://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/
this prinicipal, the school, the school district and newspaper SHOULD be sued. now, i DO think that the principal and newspaper did violate some copyright laws in taking what the original poster said and spreading it all over the place without her, or at the very least, myspace's express permission. if no copyright laws were violated, than fine. but the FAMILY'S privacy rights were violated. the father can get them for causing them to lose his livelyhood and the lil sister can get them for blocking her access to an education that is harrassment free. i think the original poster was on to something when she wrote about how much this place sucked. Lord knows i wouldn't want to live anywhere like that, esp in light of how ppl responded to her posting,

small towns, for the record, not everyone thinks the place is heaven. some ppl do think it sucks. some are trying to change that, others are not. but it's nothing to get your panties in a bunch about! ppl are entitled to their opinions. you are entitled to disagree with them. and you all need to get over yourselves! :p]]>Apr 14th 2009 5:11PMhttp://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/http://www.switched.com/2009/04/08/myspace-diatribe-not-protected-by-privacy-rights-says-californi/Oct 11th 2009 11:12AM