05/ 5/06

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Defamation Suit Against Blogger Draws Fire

The lawsuit filed recently by Maine Office of Tourism contractor Warren Kremer Paino Advertising (WKPA) pits paid speech against free speech. In this instance, free speech seems to have taken the lead.

WKPA sued Web designer Lance Dutson for criticizing the ad firm on his blog, the Maine Web Report. Evidently, WKPA only likes positive spin.

Thanks to blogitators — my oh-so-trendy portmanteau of agitators and bloggers — State Representative Stephen Bowen of Rockport has asked Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Jack Cashman to suspend the New York advertising agency's contract.

A small victory perhaps. But free speech faces more formidable challenges, such as H.R. 683, "The Trademark Dilution Revision Act," which will only make it harder to criticize companies.

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