The Trend of Threatening Physicians for Personal Gain
(Podcast) The Briefing – Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts
The Briefing – Fake Reviews, Real Consequences: Consumer Review Dos and Don’ts
The FTC’s Proposed Rule Banning Deceptive Reviews and Testimonials
Negative Online Reviews and Reputation Management: Tips for Health Care Practices and Providers
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Trending Now: An IP Podcast - Advertising & Customer Engagement in the Digital Age - Customer Reviews and Response
How to Find the Identity of an Anonymous Author Online
II-36- Holiday Party Tips, the 2018/2019 Federal Regulatory Agenda, and Noteworthy Cases On Suing and Being Sued
Question: It was recently brought to my attention that a patient posted on the internet false and misleading information regarding treatment I provided to her. The posting also contains false and defamatory descriptions of me...more
The Federal Trade Commission’s new rules banning phony online reviews are now in effect. These rules aim to curb false consumer testimonials, the buying of fake reviews from brokers, review suppression, falsifying social...more
The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a new rule aimed at curtailing false, misleading, and otherwise fraudulent reviews on online retail sites. Fake reviews are a significant problem for the big e-commerce platforms,...more
An online reputation crisis can be defined as a situation where an individual or business faces a significant and often damaging shift in how they are perceived online. Whether through negative reviews, malicious rumors, or...more
On November 30, 2023, the Colorado Court of Appeals in Tender Care v. Barnett tested the limits of Colorado’s anti-SLAPP law in considering whether an individual’s online review of a company could invoke the protections of...more
Nearly every detail you’d need to know about a business can be found online. From hours of operation to location, featured products and current promotions, information is just one click away. Along with customers finding...more
While filing a lawsuit for internet harassment or defamation may seem straightforward, there are many variables to consider before you can file suit. The biggest of these hurdles may also seem like the most obvious: Who are...more
Yelp is an incredibly important tool for consumers to gather information online about all types of businesses. While the general perception has always been that Yelp is a site to look up restaurants, the platform has expanded...more
The Colorado Court of Appeals on December 22, 2022, issued an important decision upholding the free speech rights of consumer reviewers in Colorado who honestly post about their experiences with licensed professionals....more
Despite Hollywood’s most recent high-profile case with Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, defamation cases are notoriously difficult to win and often susceptible to pretrial dismissal. Yet, a recent Oregon Supreme Court case—Lowell...more
Negative online reviews for medical procedures can sting. But suing a disgruntled patient for defamation can add insult to injury, as a recent appeals court decision makes clear....more
The Victorian Supreme Court (the Court) recently upheld a statutory qualified privilege defence in novel circumstances. The defence was applied in respect of what were otherwise found to be defamatory Google reviews. This was...more
A positive internet reputation is an expected prerequisite for conducting business. Negative internet content, including negative reviews, can destroy an operation....more
After a few quiet weeks, last week produced a number of stories that caught our attention and made it into our weekly Update, including two interesting stories on customer reviews. Enjoy....more
Social media is causing defamation claims to become more common. There are several areas for consideration if you feel your business has been defamed. First, what is defamation? Expressing an opinion is not defamation. For...more
If you own a small business, someone has likely posted an online review of your company and its goods or services. From Yelp to TripAdvisor to Angie’s List to any number of websites tailored to particular industries or...more
More patients than ever admit to choosing their health care providers based on what they read online. This means that false and misleading reviews which appear online can significantly impact a health care provider’s...more
In an ethics opinion issued on January 13, 2021, the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has provided guidance to practitioners on responding to negative online reviews...more
We work hard for our businesses, and those of you who started your own enterprise are even more deeply concerned about it than others. Which is why criticism of your business can be so frustrating....more
Every business struggles with negative online reviews. Unless the negative post directly violates hosts’ terms-of-use, it is highly unlikely that the host site (e.g. Yelp, Glassdoor, Instagram, etc.) will remove the post....more
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the healthcare industry is understandably fraught with unease and uncertainty. This, coupled with the ubiquity of social media, creates challenges for healthcare providers facing public...more
If an anonymous poster makes damaging claims about you online, there are legal options available to have the post removed and reveal the author. IP litigation and Internet attorney Laura Rogal explains what steps you can...more
It is well known that small businesses often live or die by word-of-mouth advertising. This is true even more so today as more and more of U.S. consumers consult online reviews and social media before patronizing a local...more
In today’s world — where social media has become a source of news for many — companies and individuals often find themselves the subject of negative and anonymous online comments. These comments can give rise to legal claims...more
Whether posted by customers, employees, or others, negative online reviews can be damaging to your business. In this episode, Elisa D’Amico and Desiree Moore offer four tips to manage and minimize the repercussions from...more