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Where is the line between opinion and defamation in such a case? If I write a review saying "I was not satisfied" is, in my opinion, just an opinion, I don't ha

Where is the line between opinion and defamation in such a case? If I write a review saying "I was not satisfied" is, in my opinion, just an opinion, I don't have to provide many details unless there is some terms and conditions with the site to provide it. At the same time, when you have a business listed on a review site you have to accept the risk that even bad-intended people can bomb your rating, it's just part of doing business and you cannot expect to sue them all if you don't agree with the reviews, especially if some can be overseas where your friendly judge has no jurisdiction. I think they just poured gasoline over a fire.

londons_explore 6y ago
In the UK, truth is a defence to libel. That means if you can prove that your opinion is as you wrote it was, then you win the case. Simply restating the same opinion in court would likely be sufficient. Obviously you have to have written "In my opinion, X is a scam". If you missed off the first 3 words, you are gonna lose.
- mytailorisrich 6y ago
  You should be very careful here. Accusing a highly regulated professional of running a scam is a very serious accusation, and the defence based on expressing an opinion does not really allow you to add "in my opinion" then say anything you want. It should be an 'honest opinion' that "an honest person could have held ... based on any fact which existed at the time the statement was made" [1], and in any case you probably don't want to test this in court... [1] https://www.carter-ruck.com/media-law-defamation-libel-and-privacy-lawyers/libel-and-slander-faq https://www.carter-ruck.com/media-law-defamation-libel-and-p...
  - llampx 6y ago
    How about, "I felt that... X was a scam."
mytailorisrich 6y ago
This case was rather clear-cut, at least under UK law. As per the article the reviewer wrote that the firm was "another scam solicitor". That's not an opinion on the service received, that's a very serious accusation, not least bearing in mind that solicitors are highly regulated, including (obviously) in terms of ethics and honesty.
seeingfurther 6y ago
The problem is that you can't remove your business from the platform. There should be an opt out for businesses that do not want to be listed.

londons_explore 6y ago

In the UK, truth is a defence to libel. That means if you can prove that your opinion is as you wrote it was, then you win the case. Simply restating the same opinion in court would likely be sufficient. Obviously you have to have written "In my opinion, X is a scam". If you missed off the first 3 words, you are gonna lose.

mytailorisrich 6y ago
You should be very careful here. Accusing a highly regulated professional of running a scam is a very serious accusation, and the defence based on expressing an opinion does not really allow you to add "in my opinion" then say anything you want. It should be an 'honest opinion' that "an honest person could have held ... based on any fact which existed at the time the statement was made" [1], and in any case you probably don't want to test this in court... [1] https://www.carter-ruck.com/media-law-defamation-libel-and-privacy-lawyers/libel-and-slander-faq https://www.carter-ruck.com/media-law-defamation-libel-and-p...
- llampx 6y ago
  How about, "I felt that... X was a scam."

mytailorisrich 6y ago

This case was rather clear-cut, at least under UK law. As per the article the reviewer wrote that the firm was "another scam solicitor". That's not an opinion on the service received, that's a very serious accusation, not least bearing in mind that solicitors are highly regulated, including (obviously) in terms of ethics and honesty.

seeingfurther 6y ago

The problem is that you can't remove your business from the platform. There should be an opt out for businesses that do not want to be listed.