Railway Preservation News site discontinued - Trains Magazine

Bucyrus wrote:

While we live in a litigious society, this is all about egos. I don't think Mr. Rowland anticipated RPN shutting down after his sabre-rattling threats of damaging RPN through legal action, however.

It is now OK if Mr. Rowland is ashamed of himself, because this shows him to be a fool.

PZ

Interesting topic...internet free speech.  Has there been anything similar taken to the courts? ed

Nothing resulting in a landmark decision. Right now, many of us are waiting for Congress to officially declare Publishing Law applies to the Internet. It is long overdue.

In most cases, being a member of a forum is a privilege, not a right and therefore implies no right to freedom of speech. By the act of registering to gain entree to a forum, it is reasonable to infer consent to follow the rules and regulations of that forum. This would apply to RPN.

However, an individual on his/her own web page is protected (somewhat, with reservations) by the First Amendment; of course, this does not mean his/her actions are immune from any legal action resulting from those actions.

PZ