I've just been reading comments about people being sacked or sued for what they've written in their "blogs" - daily diaries.We should all be aware - if we write something we shouldn't, and put it up online even in a really obsure place, it will be found.

So when I write here, I need to review for copyright, libel, incitement, invasion of privacy, official secrets and decency to ensure I'm within the law of (well - is it the UK law where I'm posting from, or the USA law where the server is located). Then I need to ensure that I'm writing within what's allowed by my contract of employment, by the Acceptable User Policy of my ISP, and and other civil torts through which I'm limited. If it's part of a commercial operation (as this page is), I need to consider disability access. And it's quite a good idea for me to review my posts to ensure that they're not boring, repetitititive, smug, or showing me up as a complete wally.

Is there a complete source showing all these consideration? Probably not; I have attempted to put together pointers on these issues with regard to web site content, and that information is available for download as a pdf too.
(written 2005-01-14 06:46:31)

Commentator	says ...
Bruce James:	Surely (in english law at least) if it's an opinion, you're allowed to have it even if it is potentially libellous. Copyright is a different issue of course. I think 'parody' is acceptable. Any lawyers out there? (comment added 2005-01-14 09:45:09)
Graham:	Yes, I think you're right, Bruce. You're allowed an opinion and you may also state your opinion (provided that you make it clear that it's an opinion and not fact) provided it's not (example) inciting a crime. Having an opinion that your boss is incompetent is fine, but an unwise thing to post in case he finds out - and it's getting more likely that we would these days. Copyright - I understand that short segments reproduced for "critical review" are fine, a short segment generally considered to be a few hundred words or less. I'm NOT a lawyer ... it's my opinion that most of them would want to charge for their advise ;-) ..... ((but actually we have a good lawyer we use on the very rare occasions that we need to)) (comment added 2005-01-16 04:07:33)

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