www.Rate-Your-Defamer.ie

Introduction

The worldwide use and scope of the internet has created an unprecedented forum for the publication of defamatory statements. In recent times, the proliferation of websites whose address often takes the form of www.rate-your-[insert profession].com brings the issue of defamation on the internet to the fore and cases relating to such websites serve to highlight the practical difficulties of litigating to protect one's reputation.

In terms of legal principle there is no difference between defamatory material being published on the internet or defamatory material being published in more traditional media such as newspapers. Who, though, is responsible in law if defamatory material is published on a website on the internet?