Volvo forum killed, could this happen to us?
 

One of the Volvo forums I follow recently went into service mode, and now shows the following message:

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forum.php

Which basically states that the forum has been intentionally closed because A) some business felt slighted and B) the forum owners felt they were at litigational risk. They also apparently got a lot of rude flack over the whole ordeal too, which I'm sure contributed to their deciding that it wasn't worth their personal risk to keep the forum open.

The website for this forum is in the UK, and the people concerned are likely there too, but the US seems to be ever so much more willing to feed its lawyer contingent. Is there any chance something similar could befall us?

nah

Certainly hope not!

I read the reasons they closed that forum in the UK. We have something here that protects us. It's the first amendment.

Rant
 

If crooked (by neglect[omission] or conspiracy[fraudulent)shop owners can
force the closure of a forum offering free expression;it's time for the Liberty
Boys again.

IIRC, Mercedes Benz had a problem with MBshop -> MBshop is still here.

...and DiamlerChrysler is gone. Remind me to never mess with Bill Wood.

Thank God they put those damned amendments in the Constitution. They really come in handy sometimes!

DC sued mercedesshop a few years ago. We almost lost the website.

Bill "Chuck" Wood. :D

Why would the District of Columbia sue mercedesshop?

OK

don't mess with Bill Wood, he makes the rules for Chuck Norris.

Daimler Chysler

Really?!?!?!?

What happened, if you don't mind me asking?

The "Out Law Forum"

I knew that. Just trying to be funny.:D

That's great. Bill Wood makes the rules for Chuck Norris. You da MAN, Bill Wood!

I remember that.. It had to do with service/shop manuals.. It was silly, really..

Ha!

DaimlerChrysler challenged our use of the domain name "MercedesShop.com". Basically, they said that we were trying to fool people into thinking we were Mercedes and not independent.

We had to hire a Philadelphia lawyer and defend ourselves. It cost lots of $$$. Here's a link to the final WIPO ruling on the matter.

It's interesting that our case has been used as an example in other similar cases.

Seems like a similar thing was threatened up at MBCanada, but it died. And so did MBCanada, later.

Yep..... Godly men wrote them....:D

Nah Bill is like Chuck Noris, I was once told they were related...:D

Sorry their Matt, I clicked on the edit button of your post by mistake when I was trying to quote you.

One Nation, under God, with Liberty and Justice for all!:cool:

They also banned me, so the deserved what they got...

Ah, now we know.

Mess with 123c and he will smite thee.

The real story: Some Background on the Matter
 

Cross posted from a USA Volvo board with info from the source:

"I have just attempted to visit the forums section of volvoclub.co.uk, the UK equivalent of BB but run by a group of people rather than one individual. The following message appeared:

"It is time to release details of the events that led to the recent closure of this forum.

On 22 February 2008 I received an email from the owner of a garage that said, “I have just come across some very defamatory comments regarding my business on this forum site.”

The matter was investigated and the relevant thread removed from public view, and as a result I made the statement that posts about poor work done by garages would not be made. This was made after taking legal advice, advice that said the Volvo Owners Club, owners of the forum, could be held liable. The initial action taken by us did not resolve the matter, and it is still unresolved at this time. Hence, we cannot make any further comments.

Such legal action could be very costly and possibly exhaust the club funds. If the costs exceeded those funds the directors themselves could find themselves having to pay out of their own money.

My statement precipitated a torrent of abuse on this and other forums and some was not from members of the Volvo Owners Club.

The comments made on other forums, comments that have been passed to us were often defamatory and insulting. It is clear there are some people who have no consideration or respect for others. They seem only to want to insult others and disrupt the forum. I think we all agree with freedom of speech, but it can only be within the laws of the land.


We, the Board of Directors of the Volvo Owners Club, decided that the best course of action would be to close the forum as we felt the name of the Volvo Owners Club was being tarnished. This was done last Saturday evening.

The insults and abuse against us have continued on some other forums, and it is clear from the comments that some of those people will attempt to get back on this forum and possibly continue their campaign of disruption.

I hope it is clear now why the forum was closed, and how the irresponsible actions of some can have far reaching implications.

It may not now be a case of “when” the forum will reopen, it may be, “if”.

Robert Isaac
Director
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Volvo Owners Club"