Whirlpool forums founder sued by 2Clix

Last Updated 14/9/07

Opinion:
To me 2Clix used to be a software company I’d never heard of that made a product I’d never used that some people apparently don’t like. Now 2Clix is a software company I have heard of that makes a product I’ll never use.

I don’t really like it when popular internet forums I am a member of get sued for hosting public discussions on the positives and negatives of third party products. We can bleat on about “freedom of speech” all we like but the case just doesn’t pass my “common sense test”. Surely the public has a right to discuss their opinions openly using current technologies such as internet forums. The 2Clix vs Whirlpool case is one that many people will be watching closely. When the Whirlpool team announces their need for donations to a legal fund I will be in there with thousands of others giving what I can.

Two obscure forum threads that a few hundred people had seen are suddenly now well known around the world. Doesn’t seem like the smartest business move you can make.

Media coverage:

• Whirlpool front page article (Whirlpool.com.au)
• Firm sues forum to silence critics (Sydney Morning Herald)
• Whirlpool founder sued by 2Clix over forum comments (Gizmodo)
• Founder of Whirlpool discussion forum being sued (News.com.au)
• 2Clix sues broadband forum for “false and malicious” threads (PC World)
• Whirlpool in a legal spin as founder gets sued (IT News)
• Software developer sues to muzzle website users (The Register)
• 2Clix scores own goal with Whirlpool case (ZDNet)
• Will the Whirlpool case wash? (APC Magazine)
• The best way to silence one’s critics (CNet)
• Online free speech under threat as Whirlpool founder is sued (Australian-Media.com)
• A Whirlpool of “injurious falsehood” (Crikey.com)
• What 2Clix Should Have Done First – Saving Your Reputation (Tailored.com.au)
• EFA condemns Whirlpool lawsuit (Electronic Frontiers Australia)

Social:

• Digg this story – Software Company Sues Australian Broadband Site for Forums Comments

Whirlpool forum threads:

• Discussion Part 1
• Discussion Part 2
• Discussion Part 3
• Discussion Part 4
• Statement on donations

The Whirlpool user comments that 2Clix doesn’t like:

• 2Clix or Not 2Clix?
• Anyone used 2clix?

Other Whirlpool links:

• The Whirlpool Wiki entry
• Whirlpool legal threats policy

Other Blogs:

• 2Clix suing Whirlpool is a VERY BAD IDEA (G’Day World)
• 2Clix sues Whirlpool for forum posts (Geekrant)
• Accounting Company Sues Forum Owner Over Criticism (Crunchgear)
• Power to the customers (Media Influencer)
• Forum operator sued for injurious falsehood (Defending Scoundrels)