Getting back edited posts?

Unfortunately not.

I would also look at removing or hiding the posts as UK law on defamation means that the web site owner and the web host are liable as you are providing the service. Under UK law the service provider is seen as the 'publisher' in the eyes of the law.

Often if any legal proceedings are taken the solicitor would look at taking the website owner and the service provider to court as the 'publisher'.

As long as you can show you acted promptly when you became aware of the issue by removing the posts then you would limit your liability.

UK defamation laws are also very bad as it is up to the defendant to prove with a mountain of written evidence that the claims are true.

This is why many foreign companies try to get defamation cases heard in the UK as they are so likely to win.


Edited by WebWiz-Bruce - 04 December 2009 at 1:00pm

These types of cases rarely go to court as it costs silly amounts of money, and even if they do win they are unlikely to recover all the costs.

Generally you just get someone wasting a couple hundred pounds on solicitors fees to blow around a load of hot air.

I personally would hide the whole topic and just say it's been deleted for breaking forum rules, this way you avoid any liability of your own if things get nasty and prevent you getting stuck in the middle of a nasty situation.

There solicitor would want to see a printout or screen dump anyway as evidence rather than it staying live on a website where you are liable to the content.