You have just discovered false, negative, and defamatory statements online. The Internet libel is posted in an Internet blog, online forum, review site, or other similar website allowing third-parties, including anonymous individuals to post statements. You have contacted the owner of the website who responded that they will not remove the post or simply did not respond at all. Perhaps the response is that the website refuses to remove posts altogether regardless of whether they are truthful or not. The website owner claims to be protected under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. You are told that you have a defamation claim against whoever posted the statements. Problem is, you don't know who it was!
After being unable to remove the post, you now contact Google. In response, you receive a boilerplate, canned response stating that they are not in position to determine whether statements are true or not and that you should contact the website owner (which you already did unsuccessfully).
Did you strike out? Are the false and defamatory statements there to stay forever? Are you stuck with a good Internet defamation case but no defendant to respond to it? Not necessarily!
We employ cutting-edge and innovative techniques to investigate the source of the defamatory posts. Yes, any competent lawyer may be able to issue a subpoena to obtain an IP address. However, most Internet Service Providers maintain records for only six months. This means that you must not only receive the IP address from the website where the defamatory statements are posted but also the response from the Internet Service Provider. These things take time. What if the website where the false defamatory statements are posted is also owner by an anonymous individual? These matters may get somewhat complicated. We have handled virtually every possible scenario involving Internet defamation attacks by anonymous individuals.
A subpoena is not the only solution. Sometimes a subpoena is effective, but other times it is a hassle. We utilize our unique Information Technology expertise and background to accomplish results utilizing methods that most attorneys would not understand. Our philosophy is to apply our extensive technical background bring unique value to the Internet defamation investigation.
The author of that anonymous Internet post can be an unhappy customer with a legitimate gripe.... or it could also be a competitor posing as a customer or client, or a scorned former employee. We assist you in discovering the identity of the individual and in making a sound business and legal decision regarding how to deal with this Internet defamation problem.