[icernet] E-slur here, be sued there

[Arul Selvan]

Australias Supreme Court recently gave a landmark judgement concerning 
Internet defamation and jurisdiction, which promises to open up a 
Pandoras Box. In the case entitled 
Dow Jones vs Joseph Gutnick
, 
Australias apex court has held that a defamation case arising out of a 
story on a United States website can be heard in Australia.

This judgement promises to have wide ranging implications for the entire 
online publishing industry. This judgement opens up a legal minefield 
for web publishers, over which defamation, libel and other laws they 
must follow. The judgment is likely to impact not only freedom of speech 
of the media organizations, but it could also expose publishers to legal 
actions all over the world.

Source:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_120270,00030010.htm