Bob Lewis
Columnist

Getting a website banned

analysis
Nov 15, 20062 mins

Dear Bob ...I'm wondering what the best way is to get a website removed or banned from the Internet. I believe that is it not only offensive to me, but it speaks about things that it says my lifestyle agrees with. Which in fact is not true.Thank you for any help you may provide.-OffendedDear Offended ...I'm not sure what, exactly the issue is. Also, I'm not an attorney. In general, to the best of my knowledge, t

Dear Bob …

I’m wondering what the best way is to get a website removed or banned from the Internet. I believe that is it not only offensive to me, but it speaks about things that it says my lifestyle agrees with. Which in fact is not true.

Thank you for any help you may provide.

-Offended

Dear Offended …

I’m not sure what, exactly the issue is. Also, I’m not an attorney. In general, to the best of my knowledge, the situation is like this: If the site is defamatory and you feel personally libeled by it, then you could contact an attorney and file suit. If you think its content is illegal for some reason you can contact your state Attorney General.

If, on the other hand, you find it offensive but aren’t personally defamed by it and don’t think it breaks any laws, then the solution is to not visit the website.

So far as I know, the only way to ban a website from the Internet is if its domain name infringes on another company’s brands or trademarks. If that’s the case, the infringing site generally has to cede the domain name to the company that owns the trademark. Even in that case, the site can be moved to a new domain.

So unless the site mentions you by name or shows your photograph, I’d recommend ignoring it. The good and bad news about the Internet is that it allows everyone to find whatever path to perdition they want, without anyone else telling them they can’t.

I figure that’s a good thing.

– Bob