I wrote an article which I published on my personal website. It has gone viral but I have not reposted it anywhere else. Why am I being sued again and again for something I have only published once? It’s not my fault that people are reposting my work.
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Answer by Esther Lam, Rozelle 2039 NSW
- As the original publisher of the defamatory material you can be held responsible for any further publication if you have intended it to be republished.
- Even if the article has been altered in some way you can still be held responsible provided that the main tone and effect of the article is not changed.
- If you do not want to be held responsible for any further publication you will need to take your article down. It may also be helpful to publish a retraction or apology.