[Imc-tech] Re: [Imc-staff] RE: Bogus Article - Removal Request : Libel

[Mike Lehman]

Hi Steve,
Your first email was not very helpful and contained no citation for the 
article itself. We since heard from a global IMC volunteer, who supplied 
  the relevant citation, so we at least knew then what the issue was.

Since what you were asking went beyond what our normal editing process 
would authorize under our website policy (please note that all IMC are 
independent and have a variety of policies), we brought this request to 
our Steering group Thursday night. I was authorized to substitute 
initials for the references to your name. The article has since been 
editted so that you name no longer appears within it.

Unfortunately, we cannot honor your request to have the entire article 
itself removed. We feel that removing your name from it is responsive to 
your concerns and that removing the article would unfairly infringe on 
the author's right to publish something that otherwise meets our website 
use policies. The original author remains the one responsible for 
publishing the article.
Mike Lehman
UC IMC

Steve wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> One of your contributors wrote and posted an untrue article about me.  
> He posted it to about 50 different indymedia sites and in some cases 
> posted the same story multiple times to the same group. In one case he 
> posted the identical article 7 times to the same group.  About 24 of the 
> sites have so far as of last night removed the bogus, untrue and 
> fabricated article and 3 have it marked as "hidden" from the search 
> engines, etc.
> 
> Who do I write to request the article be removed from your server or is 
> something you can assist me with?
> 
> The article links to your site is at:
> http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display/4809
> http://www.ucimc.org/newswire/display_any/4809/index.php
> 
> Some of the sites that so far pulled the bogus postings have rules that 
> include amongst other things:
> We reserve the right to remove or hide news wire content that is 
> composed of any of the following:
> 2) Multiple posts
> 6) Personal attacks on individuals
> 7) Any content that is published on multiple IMC newswires
> 9) Patently false content in terms of author, location, time, or actors
> 
> The article amongst other things says the guy worked for me when he 
> never worked for me. We simply worked for the same company... He says I 
> had things to do with the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but 
> I can assure you I never worked or had any association with any 
> government agency. I just pay my taxes. Amongst a host of other untrue 
> statements he makes while attacking me. Some of his statements are just 
> far out there like he was abducted by the FBI and tortured, etc.
> 
> I would appreciate your cooperation and would like to see the article 
> removed. The reason it came to my attention and I'm seeking to have it 
> removed is besides the article being totally fabricated my kids are now 
> on the internet and the article does not accomplish anything for your 
> organization or the public.  The article has nothing to do with your 
> area and the writer uses it to promote his other article per the link at 
> the bottom of the page.
> 
> I am happy to provide additional information upon request...  Thanks for 
> your understanding and assistance.
> 
> Regards,
> Steve
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