PROTECTION FOR BLOGGERS
The case didn’t answer every question a journalist might have about the protection available under the statute, but it was certainly a game changer for anyone who might reasonably be described as an “activist” or “opinion” journalist. Hey bloggers: you especially ought to quit slouching in your desk chairs and take notice
http://www.trademarkandcopyrightlawblog.com/2017/02/blogger-journalist-protected-from-defamation-suit-by-anti-slapp-statute/
Blogger-Journalist Protected From Defamation Suit By Anti-SLAPP Statute
What is Anti-SLAPP Protection?
“SLAPP” stands for “strategic lawsuit against public participation,” often defined as a meritless lawsuit brought in order to deter or punish a citizen for petitioning the government, in other words, for exercising his or her political or legal rights. The stereotypical example involves a citizen speaking out against a nearby housing development at a town zoning meeting, who is then sued by the developer for defamation; the citizen is discouraged from further speech whether or not what she had to say was true. Anti-SLAPP statutes offer some protection against such suits, usually by providing for expedited dismissal and attorneys’ fees. For a more complete discussion of the Massachusetts anti-SLAPP statute’s history and parameters, see my Boston Bar Journal article from 2014.
