August 25, 2007 2:00 AM PDT
Teen fined for YouTube karaoke video
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A 15-year-old boy loses a lawsuit brought by his teacher, who claimed libel for a YouTube video the student posted.
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For example you have to first prove that there was intent to do harm. Then you have to prove that the person libeled or slandered was harmed by having their reputation ruined. Then you have to figure out how much damage was done money wise and ask for compensation.
It should be noted that in cases of parody or humor, in the USA that exempts libel and slander suits. For example David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and Mad Magazine use humor and often say untrue things about people and organizations, but are exempt from libel and slander laws.
If this teenager was in the USA, he could claim that the "Karaoke of a mental patient" label was a joke, not to be taken seriously.
I should note that most schools have an Internet use policy that extends to Internet use at home and other places instead of just school. If a student does this sort of thing to a teacher or any other staff member, they can be disciplined at school, regardless of what civil rights laws may say, because they have to sign a contract with the school in order to use the Internet.
Anyway libel and slander laws get silly when strangers on the Internet sue the other person in a debate or flamewar for libel, when most people don't even take things said in a debate or flamewar seriously. When such things are posted at CNet for example, CNet often removes the posts. Most of the users here at CNet, often joke with each other and joke about untrue things about the other person.