Speak your mind

Internet message boards now count as public meeting places, according to an
appeals court ruling in California. This seemingly innocuous decision means that
companies will find it harder to sue people discussing their business on the
Net. Computer company ComputerXpress sued eight defendants for making what it
says were false and disparaging statements on message boards. The ruling now
allows people to use freedom of speech, which is protected under the First
Amendment, as a defence.