The person so emotionally fragile as to sue someone for a review he didn't agree with should be embarrassed. Chances are he's bringing way more attention to the review than would have happened naturally. Not smart.
Thin Line Between Critique and Courtrooms: A Dialogue on the Recent Audiophile Drama
Hey Audiogonians,
In the vast, vibrant universe of audio reviews, where the line between subjective opinion and objective analysis often blurs, a new saga unfolds. It involves a Youtuber, well-known within our community for their take on speaker designs – designs that, while innovative, haven't shied away from criticism. The plot thickens with another Youtuber's revelation: the speaker's designer and manufacturer has filed a lawsuit against a reviewer over their less-than-glowing feedback.
The core of the debate? Whether it's acceptable to push back against reviewers when their findings diverge from what manufacturers desire. It's not a new drama; history is littered with tales of reviewers facing legal threats for daring to express their truth. Yet, each story brings a fresh perspective on the delicate dance between free speech and brand reputation.
This particular episode raises several intriguing questions:
- Where do we draw the line between constructive criticism and damaging feedback?
- Is the courtroom really the arena for settling disputes over reviews, or should dialogue prevail?
- And crucially, what does this mean for the future of honest, independent audio reviews?
This isn't just about the nitty-gritty of legal battles, many of which remain cloaked in confidentiality and technical jargon. It's about the principle: the right to voice one's opinion in a space that thrives on diversity of thought.
So, fellow audiophiles, what's your take? Have you ever felt swayed by a review, only to discover a different truth upon listening? Have you faced the ire of those who didn't appreciate your candid feedback?
📢Let's make this a discussion to remember – not just for the controversy, but for the unity and respect we can foster, even in disagreement.
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+1 @roadcykler |
I will be donating to this when I have a few minutes today. https://www.gofundme.com/f/erins-audio-corner-litigation-fund |
I watched Erin's video right when it came out of those hideous garage speakers. The review samples were sent to him by a viewer, not the manufacturer. The manufacturer should have just opened a constructive dialog with Erin, first. But the way this was handled was wrong and heavy-handed is being polite. There are so many other speaker brands out there with better finishing and aesthetics that if Tekton goes away, I wouldn't notice. |
I’m not a lawyer and don’t have any special expertise in libel/slander laws, but I’m guessing that before taking legal action in a case like this, a manufacturer has to first publicly and/or privately advise the alleged offender that they have made false claims about their product and that if they don’t stop doing so then legal action will be pursued. Otherwise, a lack of such a warning immediately after the manufacturer becomes aware of the alleged false claims might indicate tacit approval and could affect any right to future legal damages if the matter can’t be resolved out of court. I haven’t reviewed all the reports cited in this thread, but it sounds like Tekton could have been more tactful in how they went about dealing with the reviewer, but it may have been legally necessary to protect any future case.
Again, I'm not an expert but I'm not sure a finding of malice would be necessary. As I understand from a bit of googling, malice is required for a defamation finding against a public figures or officials. In all other cases, mere negiligence in making knowingly false defamatory statements is sufficient. So it seems that if someone knows that a claim is false and makes it anyway, it may be actionable regardless of motive. I hate to sound like a defender of big business, which I'm not, but the law can be complex (probably too much so!) and it's not usually a good idea to reach conclusions about stuff like this unless you 1) know all the facts, and 2) know the law. |
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