Why It Makes Sense for Businesses to Threaten Online Critics

Add another page to the fast-growing chronicle of shady ways for companies to try bullying customers who post unflattering reviews on the Internet.

This time the unlucky critic was Jen Palmer, who told a CBS affiliate in Salt Lake City that she received a bill for $3,500 from Kleargear.com, a company that sells office tchotchkes

Kleargear claimed the negative review Palmer had posted on RipoffReport.com was a violation of a nondisparagement clause in its terms of service, which happen to include a hefty fine. The company also threatened to move the issue to a collection agency if Palmer didn’t cough up, with corresponding damage to her credit. Read more...