Owning [intellectual] property on the internet is like having one of those electric megaphones that street preachers use to scare warn bystanders. By that I mean it’s kind of pointless if you don’t have something somewhat meaningful to say. In theory, the only guidelines to online writing are the individual’s personal code of moral conduct, but that will evolve as the internet does.

Crystal Cox is a law blogger (one who blogs about the issues pertaining to law) who apparently takes her craft very seriously. She runs three websites (1, 2, & 3) that don’t hesitate to point out the inequities & injustices of certain corporations. One of the companies – Obsidian Financial Group & it’s co founder Kevin Padrick – didn’t take kindly to some of her accusations & subsequently sued her for 10 million dollars. Ms. Cox acted as her own lawyer & used a handful of circumstantial stipulations that, under normal circumstances, would shield a credible reporter or journalist for speaking so candidly. Also, according to SeattleWeekly.com:

“Cox had argued that her writing was a mixture of facts, commentary and opinion (like a million other blogs on the web) and moved to have the case dismissed.”

The judge, however, decided that since Ms. Cox wasn’t affiliated with any media hub, she’s just a blogger, & her accusations are slanderous. One can only assume that – in some alternate universe – when the judge slammed his gavel, Goliath slapped David to the ground & laughed.

Ms. Cox plans to file an appeal, which will probably be juggled until the matter is settled out of court or something, but that shines a new light on what more than half of the internet is always doing; talking about other people.

In Hip Hop especially, their tends to be an overzealous amount of fanfare & backlash, between the artists themselves as well as the fans. This, pre-internet, wasn’t a problem because the further the insults & allegations reached was the outskirts of that particular city or state. Now that Hip Hop lives in the computer, it’s tantamount to one big compound, & there are twice as many people listening as there are talking. (Think about that for a moment, if you need to.) What would have been merely a “diss” had only a few thousand heard it can be considered slander or defamatory once it becomes [Hip Hop] news headlines. If an artist could prove that their record sales had been affected by an exclusive WorldStarHipHop video, for example, he could sue the opposing artist & possibly even stand a chance at winning.

You have to imagine that rappers & record labels could take the same measures against bloggers, granted there’s evidence of the statements defaming them. The internet is literally recalibrating society, so it makes total sense that other things – such as the interpretation of entertainment law – will as well. & before you wave this off as being petty & too bothersome to be more than conspiracy theory, bear in mind that you also never thought you’d see a rapper purposely wearing tight, animal-print spandex in public.

Ja Rule could’ve sued 50 Cent, I’m pretty sure.