I wasn’t arguing bribery vs extortion. I was questioning whether defaming someone is an illegal act. Since you’ve brought it up, is it extortion to offer up a

I wasn’t arguing bribery vs extortion. I was questioning whether defaming someone is an illegal act. Since you’ve brought it up, is it extortion to offer up a negative opinion and then to offer to take down a negative opinion? The public space is as much yours as mine to say what we will about whatever subject under the sun including each other. E.g., “I believe zebnyc eats donkey meat for breakfast. I don’t think he should be allowed to do this.” Now, if you were applying for a PETA contract, this opinion of mine could hurt you financially. So if I offered to take down this opinion for money, what illegal act have I committed? My opinion of your eating habits is valuable to you because of your external circumstances namely your PETA contract. Is this any different from this guy stating that he doesn’t understand why a piece of equipment should cost in the thousands when to make it should cost in the low hundreds. The company could have argued the actual cost teardown or said that they attach their QA and reputation to each piece of equipment sold so that boosts the price or given him money to shut him up. The chose the last option.