Web Site Messages Legality

[surfer56]

Does a web owner have the legal right to share correspondence of a dispute, between him and a member of his site, to other members? Messages were copy and pasted and sent to others to read without the originators permission.

[jbinbpt]

Hi surfer56,
Welcome to WebmasterWorld. Enjoy.

You won't find legal advice here. Seek local advice.

As a general rule, I keep person to person communications out of the forums I run.

[dukelips]

is there any agreement between them

[Syzygy]

Does a web owner have the legal right to share correspondence of a dispute, between him and a member of his site, to other members? Messages were copy and pasted and sent to others to read without the originators permission.

If you're the site owner, you're also the Sheriff. What rules have you made?*

If you're not the Sheriff, have you read the Sheriff's rules?*

Syzygy

* Not including laws of defamation: slander, libel, etc...

[tangor]

Establish a site policy, and REQUIRE folks to acknowledge. Or, go with what is general tort law in most countries: DON'T. Revelation of private communications is a no-no. Do a little research on the aspect of private communications in your local area to get the full skinny... but MOST (I would say all) will say that private communications (letters, email, phone calls) are NOT permitted to be shared publicly. Google EFF (Electronic Frontiers Foundation) for more info specific to the USA. Legislation which specifically includes the above guidelines are 1936 Wire Tape and 1980s ECPA.