ePerks Silencing Blogger With Lawsuit
TheSpotter on June 14th, 2008 ![[Post to Twitter]](http://www.howtospoter.com/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/tweet-this-small.png)
Tweet ThisHow do you silence the Blogger?
By filing a lawsuit against him! Or at least that is the thinking behind the ePerks actions against Vladimir “Vlad” Zablotskyy who is being sued for blogging.
In reality they are probably no too far off as about 90% of the bloggers don’t even make enough to cover their hosting fees and even a thought of lawsuit has quite chilling effect. But while many bloggers don’t have money - we have passion, passion and ability to speak. Free Speech still hasn’t been canceled in this country!
…or did I miss something? I think NOT and even though my blog is unrelated to the topic and I do try to stay away from these topics - I have decided to add my voice to the issue, because I hate bullying by anyone, especially corporations…
I do think it is important that you makeup your own mind as to what side you should listen to!
ePerks VS Vlad Zablotskyy can easily become one of the many and right now it is not the time to stay on the side and “observe” how it will turn out, because YOU COULD BE NEXT!
I have no intentions to tell you what to do or how to react to the story but simply want to raise awareness and ask you to act - one way or another. If you decide that ePerks is correct in this case - so be it, your opinion matters and voicing it IS important. If not for the sake of the blogger Vlad Zablotskyy who is being sued then for the sake of the ePerks, whose reputation is quickly getting destroyed.
How you act is up to you but here is some additional info for you:
- Mary provides great summary of the facts as they are seen and reported by bloggers in her post ePerks Sues Real Estate Blogger, Blogosphere Unites to Destroy the ePerks Brand. You can get the details on how the story unveiled.
- Andy Beard was one of the first to bring this issue to my attention with his article ePerks & iHype - Legal Kneejerk - Sues Blogger and he continues to speak out on the issue so make sure to view his related posts for more info.
- INMANNEWS just published another article on the issue ePerks sues blogger over online comments that offers a more impartial view of the entire issue and provides some links as to what has happened so far.
- Greg Swan has setup a fund for Vlad’s legal defense (yeah, lawsuits are VERY expensive people), so you may donate what you can afford and hope if something like this happens to you - you will get similar support!
Read the articles above. Make your decision and act. Don’t let ePerks VS Vlad Zablotskyy issue go unnoticed! Take a stand, take action!
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hunter (1 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
It goes to show you the internet can easily be used to ruin someone’s reputation. As blogger, we have to watch what we post about and be aware of possible consequences…Something like this could really ruin it for bloggers, if the feds where to get involved.
hunters last blog post..Earn Your First Dollar From Blogging In 7 Days - Guaranteed - Web 2.0 Wealth System Review
TheSpot-er (971 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
@hunter - I didn’t think Vlad do anything wrong, personally. Anyone and everyone can be attacked and sued for some technicality as long as you voiced an opinion. And if you don’t - why even start a blog?
Blog is unique you, your thoughts, your opinions on a specific topic….
Frank C (11 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
It’s a new form of an old tactic, the SLAPP or Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. The idea is that you use the civil legal system against a grassroots opponent with the intention of forcing them into silence due to the high costs of a defending a civil lawsuit. This tactic is illegal in some states and can bring state supported counter suits but in other states it is fair game to do so.
TheSpot-er (971 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
Thanks for the insight Frank.
I’ve read in one of the posts about the issue in a letter from the ePerks owner that lawsuit will remain in CA for some reasons, he didn’t mention. Probably describing the exact scenario you have just described, but that is just my guessing. “Legal speak” is so far out of my bounds I don’t even intent to pretend I understand all intricacies ….
Alex
Rhys (10 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
Scary Stuff Alex!
We need to be aware hat the internet is not an anonymous playground for anybody. I stand behind what I write, but there is no real defense against ‘dirty tricks’ like you have outlined here.
I guess the only defense we do have is the ’spotlight’ of publicity. ePerks really needs to have all the (bad) publicity we can give them. They sowed it, let them reap it!!
Rhyss last blog post..Maximize SEO like a ‘Pro’
TheSpot-er (971 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
Rhys,
I thinks it is about publicity - bad or not. Raising awareness is one of the reason I wrote this article and to help Vlad is second. More people know about and talk about, less likely big corporations will try this trick next time. As a bloggers we don’t have same legal resources but we do have a voice and a place to speak-up.
Alex
Dennis Edell (76 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
I’ve been following this since the beginning from Andy also, and think it’s just disgusting.
Earlier today I left a comment on his latest post, which I haven’t seen e=raised yet…
How might this effect future “reviewing”?
Dennis Edells last blog post..10 General, Useful Tips To Add To Your Bottom Line
Monika Mundell (5 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
It really is a shame that companies will raise to accusations such as these. As far as I have seen, this blogger is simply stating his mind and what is wrong with that. It’s not that he actually accuses eperks with anything is it.
Monika Mundells last blog post..Writing For SEO - Freelance Writing Guide
Mitchell (1 comments.) (Who Am I?)
5 months ago
If VLAD wants to end this just send the attorneys this link. - Look at the areas I boxed in Red.
http://www.interiorliving.com/eperks.jpg
For those who need an explanation.
http://www.robotstxt.org/faq/prevent.html
How do I prevent robots scanning my site?
The quick way to prevent robots visiting your site is put these two lines into the /robots.txt file on your server
I would estimate they did this around October/November and didnt change it.
Now ejerks go fire your webmaster and stop the stupid lawsuit its your webmasters fault not anyone elses.
Mitchell
InteriorLiving.Com
Tim@Playstation Game Cheats (5 comments.) (Who Am I?)
4 months ago
Mitchell:
I don’t understand your comment about robots. How is this the cause of the whole thing?
A smear campaign like this one is the lowest of the low. I hope the little guy has enough of us standing behind him to come out on top.
Tims last blog post..Playstation Game Cheats for Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity
andy@tattoo designs (4 comments.) (Who Am I?)
2 months ago
Big companies are annoying. All they do is try to take advantage of the little guys, sigh.
andys last blog post..Examples of Cute Fairy Tattoos
Clement (8 comments.) (Who Am I?)
2 months ago
I came to fully understand Vlad’s issue just recently.In my opinion, Vlad will come out of this victorious.This issue is just helping to make him to be an even more popular blogger.