EFF has released a long, comprehensive, accessible guide to the law and blogging, aimed at bloggers who are worried about protecting their sources' anonymity, about libel, about copyright and trademark infringement claims, and all the other legal risks that might stop a blogger from saying her piece:
There is still a lot of confusion about the legal status of bloggers. Are they journalists, due the protections of the reporters' privilege and heightened First Amendment analysis? Are they online service providers, who are generally exempt from liability for the postings of others? EFF's guide explores all of these roles and explains how the law may be interpreted in particular instances.
"Bloggers are a powerful new voice in public debates," said EFF Staff Attorney Kurt Opsahl, who coordinated the project. "The guide will help bloggers understand the basics about the laws that affect them so they can better protect and defend their rights."
EFF will add to the guide over the next several months, posting a section on how labor law may affect people who blog about their workplaces, as well as updates to the law as pending cases are decided.
(Thanks, Donna!)
