Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: It is time for an official protest
by
DeathAndTaxes
on 20/12/2011, 21:58:44 UTC
Calling bitcoin 'illegally invented' as in the CBS press release about the "Bitcoin for Dummies" episode of "Good Wife" is a clear defamation and demands a legal action.

Link to the announcement text: http://1.hidemyass.com/ip-4/encoded/Oi8vd3d3LmNic3ByZXNzZXhwcmVzcy5jb20vY2JzLWVudGVydGFpbm1lbnQvcmVsZWFzZXMvdmlldz9pZD0zMDE3Nw%3D%3D&f=norefer

You have little (honest no) chance to win in the US with any suit.

In most states simply stating an incorrect fact isn't sufficient for defamation.
1) You must prove the fact is false.
2) You must prove you suffered a harm (not Bitcoin as some nebulous non-entity but you personally suffered a financial harm recognized by the court).
3) You must prove the entity making the statement had knowledge it was false.

Even in more "normal" situations the deck is stacked against you.  Even if you believe CBS knew the statement was false that doesn't meet the burden required by the law.  You must prove that CBS made an internationally false statement, and that you personally suffered a financial harm as a result. 

The best thing to do is contact the editor (level headed) and indicate your believe the statement is false.  Potentially in some future article/segment they may use alternate language.