When Companies Respond to Online Criticism With Lawsuits - NYTimes.com - 0 views
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the latest incarnation of a decades-old legal maneuver known as a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or Slapp.
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meritless defamation suits filed by businesses or government officials against citizens who speak out against them. The plaintiffs are not necessarily expecting to succeed — most do not — but rather to intimidate critics who are inclined to back down when faced with the prospect of a long, expensive court battle
