Today I received my first ever cease and desist order from a website owner who feels I am currently causing him financial loss in my recent post about scams. The order demands that I delete the post and make no further mention of it, nor it’s content, in any subsequent blog posts, nor on any other blogs.
This just goes to prove how far these people will go in their ridiculous attempts to rip off the unsuspecting surfer. Even though I didn’t mention anyone by name, nor did I mention any specific website, this person has decided to employ the services of a legal team to try and silence my legitimate criticism.
Before the cease and desist email arrived earlier this morning the person responsible attempted to post numerous comments in the aforementioned blog post, all linking to more scams, all using fake identities, but all the same person with the same IP address. Clearly, this gentleman has very little idea about how easy it is to spot comment spam and multiple identities.
I am currently taking legal advice and will report back when I have more information.
It is my intention to keep the blog post in place and to keep highlighting similar scams as and when necessary. As a blogger who passionately believes in the power of blogging I will continue to give advice and criticism, both positive and negative, on any and all issues relating to the medium.
Furthermore I will post the full ceased and desist email, along with the name and website address of the person who issued it, once I have confirmed that it is legal for me to do so.
Any thoughts you have on this matter would be most appreciated. I am particularly interested to hear from any bloggers who have been issued with any form of cease and desist order in the past. If this strikes a chord with you then please consider hitting the digg button below to help get the message out that bloggers should not and will not be silenced without a fight.
What a tool. Funny how he can scam people but yet when people like him are called out, they lawyer up because they are being wronged (so they think). Don’t give in Ashley, you didn’t mention him or his website so why should you have to delete the post. Look at it this way. You may be able to get some extra traffic out of this…lol.
All I can say is that you have my full support, Ashley. If it wasn’t for the hassle it’s causing you, it would almost be comical.
Wow. That’s just ridiculous.
Such a ceased and desist can have no legal standing – as you mention, your post made no reference, specific or otherwise, to any particular site or company.
Kudos for standing up to them. I’m looking forward to reading the email, presuming you get the a-ok to post it.
Presumably (and speaking without any actual legal experience), I don’t see how they could stop you from sharing the letter. On what legal grounds?
I used to have an employer that would serve Cease and Desist, and court orders over anything he could, that was his game. If he thought there was a chance that he could get someone for a few beans, he’d call up his lawyer and file a suit.
Not too many times anything ever happened to it. Hang in there.
you could always employee the oopty-oop. Get another site with no real connection to put the letter on blast.
jazz trumpeter, huh? i’mma jazz trombonist – or was anyways. my actual schooling is in euphonium performance, but i played in a could army bands where i picked up some interesting tricks. huzzah to you bro.
Don’t expect it to hold up in court. Good luck, Ashley. You won’t need it.
Can’t wait to see the letter.