Regular commentators on internet forums may be regarded as public figures and therefore may have to tolerate more critical opinions about their activities.

Operators of websites that mainly direct users to offending content may not be perceived as certain 'service providers' contemplated by EU directive on electronic commerce.

An allegation about the use of vulgar words and threats by an internet forum commentator was mentioned in an article published on Wikipedia. The article could be accessed via web page operated by the association that works with Wikimedia Foundation Inc in Poland.

The commentator responded by suing the association but the court found that his personal rights had not been infringed.

The court also found that the association was not the right defendant as it had no (or very limited) powers to edit or block the article. The claim should properly be directed at whoever was directly responsible for editing or storing the content, even if they were in another country.

Law: Judgment of the Court of Appeal in Wrocław of 17 November 2009 (I ACa 949/09)

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The original publication date for this article was 12/02/2010.