Flaming the Competition
Sticks and stones might break bones, but libelous statements may lead to litigation…..
A flame, according to answers.com is : Informal. To make insulting criticisms or remarks, as on a computer network, to incite anger.
So when it comes to the competition, it’s really tempting to flame the heck out them. Especially when their products and services are sub par when compared to your own. But you might want to walk lightly and carry a strong legal team before your next rant filled post.
Because many companies are taking a legal posture with statements made on other blogs. Especially blogs belonging to their competitors. The rule of thumb these days seems to be that you need to be able to back up your statements with cold hard facts.
So having a client come to you and tell you that they did business with your competition in the past and that they suck is not enough. Sorry Charlie, reposting casual commentary might just get you into some hot water that you can’t get out of. This is especially true for small home businesses and startups that don’t have the cash to retain a full time legal army. Even more true if the competitor you happen to be taking on, DOES….
However, it is o.k. to repost content that you’ve found on other sites and quote them. If they were the original source, they are most likely going to take the heat for any comments they make. The worse case scenario you might get in something like this could be a cease and desist letter demanding that you take the post down. If they send the demand, consider removing it if you are not in a solid position to fight.
If you are and you see real value, like a giant press feeding frenzy, then it might be worth it to let the post stand… But these calls ultimately come down to you. The bottom line here is that you need to think about the content you post on your website/blog because you are the one they are going to come to should there be a problem.
As far as flames go though, they can be a good thing. Tossing a rock into the pond will sometimes send waves of traffic back to your site. You just need to make sure you can take the heat and back up the flame when the waves come back your way.
If you’re feeling frisky, sling a little shit. It can be a good thing if done properly.
Tags: blog wars, controversy, flames