Of all the ways to make money!!

[Clinton]

I have today been offered $5,000 to remove a certain thread that someone feels is damaging their business.

I won't say what thread it is but some of you would remember the thread where a seller of more expensive sites avidly defended his business model and his enterprise with replies from one or two of his customers (or claimed customers).

The threat is that if I don't remove it legal action will be launched against me in the UK for defamation.

Seeing this got me thinking - wow, somebody could make a lot of money on a website if he SEOed it for a name and then offered to take the page down/redirect it on payment of a certain sum. There could be a dark side to that hip new industry of reputation management.

[tke71709]

It's already being done...

See http://www.97thfloor.com/blog/public...t-has-to-stop/

[Clinton]

That's awful!

I've got a moral quandry. Taking down the site removes some important discussion that could be of use to future members. It could save future website buyers considerable money whether they are members or not. And there's a principle at stake.

OTOH, $5,000 would make a big difference to my favourite charity (not to mention avoiding having to defend legal action).

Forum members, what would you do?

[christopheravell]

I have today been offered $5,000 to remove a certain thread that someone feels is damaging their business.

I won't say what thread it is but some of you would remember the thread where a seller of more expensive sites avidly defended his business model and his enterprise.

The threat is that if I don't remove it legal action will be launched against me in the UK for defamation.

Seeing this got me thinking - wow, somebody could make a lot of money on a website if he SEOed it for a name and then offered to take the page down/redirect it on payment of a certain sum.

That is called "The Ripoff Report Model". It is also close to blackmail.

[christopheravell]

That's awful!

I've got a moral quandry. Taking down the site removes some important discussion that could be of use to future members. It could save future website buyers considerable money whether they are members or not. And there's a principle at stake.

OTOH, $5,000 would make a big difference to my favourite charity (not to mention avoiding having to defend legal action).

Forum members, what would you do?

I would not take it down, slippery slope. Once you have done it once for $5000, where does it stop? Do you only take it down where enough money is offered? If someone only has $500 what do you say -- "you're going to need to give me more". I would do the opposite. I would further out the person who did it! I really would.

[tke71709]

The moment you start accepting money to take down comments the forum becomes useless.

I don't know enough about defamation laws in the UK to be of any assistance but I would speak to a lawyer to see if there is any real issue here.

[petertdavis]

I didn't think you'd be that cheap of a date Clinton.

[Ajeet]

There are 2 reasons to take it down:
1) To get the $5000 to the charity
2) To avoid getting sued.

My recommendation:
* Donate the $5000 to the charity from your own funds.
* Do not take down the thread.
* Fight the potential legal battle

[ClaytonL]

I wouldn't be offended if you took down the thread. Sure there is some valuable information in there, but I don't know if it's worth the legal costs. I hear a lot of people asking you to fight the battle, but I have a feeling (and it's just a feeling) that their opinions might change if you asked them to pool together to foot the legal costs. You do us a great service by providing the forums.

I have no opinion either way on the $5000.

[meathead1234]

Someone who offers $5k to take down negative press about his own business doesn't sound like someone who has nothing to hide. If he/she/it really were innocent then they would have no issue either taking legal action or asking you to take it down for $0.

Why not counter-offer with $10k and donate a little more to your charity