I recently made a presentation on Social Media Marketing and Web2.0 at which I spoke, in part, of the need to claim your space and monitor your feedback on social network based business review sites like Yelp.com.

The question was asked, “Can an online reviewer be sued for libel?” I suggested that, while I’m not a lawyer and to seek legal advice as prudent or necessary, factual, non-malicious feedback should be okay. As it turns out, maybe/maybe not because what is and isn’t considered malicious is in the eye of the beholder (or negatively reviewed business owner, as the case may be).

See…

• The San Francisco Chronicle’s article: S.F. Yelp user faces lawsuit over review
• Grokdotcom’s blog post and reader comments on the case at: Yelp Reviewer Lands in Court
• and follow the Official Yelp Blog as they add their take on the event and its implications

My view? I love the whole online review scene both as a resource to find great businesses and to steer me clear of those who might practice their trade in a less than ethical manner. But I also recognize that there are malicious customers out there who are going to extract their pound of flesh regardless of the business owner’s efforts to satisfy them.

Read the above then leave a comment of your own either supporting the business owner or the reviewer or make the case for both…