Inspired by Steve Champeon’s experiments, R.Livsey posted to evolt’s thelist a PHP script that quickly accomplishes the same thing.

From the CAJ-List, an interesting ruling from the Court of Appeal for Ontario in regards to libel, Web sites, and e-mail.

In a spate between a reviewer and a writer, the court asked whether the publication’s Web site is a newspaper, broadcast or both. The decision: since Libel and Slander Act, “defines a newspaper in part as a ‘paper’ containing certain categories of information for distribution to the public. [The court thinks] the word ‘paper’ is broad enough to encompass a newspaper which is published on the internet.”

The court also wrote that there was no evidence, on record, that a Web site falls within the Act’s definition of broadcast.

There were also a number faxes and emails that contained allegedly libel material. The court ruled that email, is, in terms of the Act, much like a fax, therefore each “publication” is a separate libel.

So if you want to sue some Web site in Ontario, do so within six weeks of finding out about the alleged libel.

And, when flaming by email, keep in mind how many potential libels have occurred.