Websites that suck.com

[Raizinman]

Walmart, Sears, Kmart and other companies all have their hate mongers that have put up a websites such as Walmartsucks.com. My question is: Why does Walmart and these other companies allow this? Isn’t this a copyright infringement or libel? How can this be allowed? Are their hands tied?

 

[smackababy]

One could argue it was a parody, which is covered thanks to 2 Live Crew!

 

[lxskllr]

Fair use. Learn it. Love it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

 

[dougp]

Fair use. Learn it. Love it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use

As well as free advertising. Unless you kill or sleep with someone, the public really doesn't care.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

This should be taken even further. People who don't like other people starting sites like walmartsucks.com can start their own site like walmartsucksdotcomsucks.com

 

[Crono]

It's not libel unless you are making untrue statements.

Having a website isn't much different from going around and telling people you hate those companies. Now if those sites were purporting to be walmart.com or whatever, then there would be a problem.

 

[pmv]

Walmart, Sears, Kmart and other companies all have their hate mongers that have put up a websites such as Walmartsucks.com. My question is: Why does Walmart and these other companies allow this? Isn’t this a copyright infringement or libel? How can this be allowed? Are their hands tied?

Libel law is pretty complicated, and also varies hugely from one country to another. Just saying nasty things is not in itself libelous, necessarily. But I could imagine sites like that crossing a line and getting into difficulties, especially if for some reason it comes under the jurisdiction of countries less keen on free speech than the US.

But I don't get what you mean by 'copyright infringement'. If entities could copyright their names such that nobody could even refer to them in a negative way without running the risk of being sued for 'copyright infringement' it would pretty much become impossible to say anything about anyone or anything.

 

[zinfamous]

This should be taken even further. People who don't like other people starting sites like walmartsucks.com can start their own site like walmartsucksdotcomsucks.com

GagHalfruntcommentingonATOTaboutwalmartsucksdotcomsucksdotcomsucks.com

Oh wait, I don't think that one would work. :hmm:

 

[GagHalfrunt]

GagHalfruntcommentingonATOTaboutwalmartsucksdotcomsucksdotcomsucks.com

Oh wait, I don't think that one would work. :hmm:

I'm gonna sue your ass for even mentioning it.