Battling Corporate Internet Trolls: Going After Impostors and Competitors That Break the Law

This CLE course will guide general counsel and in-house attorneys with strategies for addressing internet defamation and online reputation attacks against their clients. The panel will examine the various factors counsel must consider when responding to online attacks; effective tactics to identify anonymous posters and file pseudonymous lawsuits; strategies for stopping attacks and/or removing damaging content; addressing impostor competitors; and other legal and business considerations, including unique methods for proving damages for defamation.

When trolls attack the integrity of a business, potentially destroying the company's reputation, companies and counsel need to weigh the cost of proceeding with a potential defamation or libel action against a troll with the likelihood of success. This requires a business and legal approach to issues that distinguish trolls from dissatisfied customers. Due to the ubiquity of anonymous posters, corporate counsel must be prepared and experienced in filing pseudonymous lawsuits.

While mimicry may be the sincerest form of flattery, in the online world, the concern of imposter and copycat postings for companies increases. It can be difficult to determine the province of these competitors, and the legal claims of proceeding against them for infringement take skill in both discovery and filing the proper lawsuit.

Listen as our expert panel of attorneys and consultants provides advice on how to navigate the social media platforms to protect the client's company and how and when to make the decision to go on the offensive against individuals seeking to destroy a company's reputation and economic livelihood.