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Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail Message

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  • 02-01-2016, 11:32 AM
    plushevyitigr
    Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail Message
    Hello all,

    I live in MA.

    I have just received a bullying voicemail from somebody. If I were to make it public - primarily, in order to shame the bully - what are potential legal repercussions to me?

    Thanks.
  • 02-01-2016, 11:54 AM
    flyingron
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Yes, you can be sued.
  • 02-01-2016, 12:05 PM
    plushevyitigr
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Quote:

    Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    Yes, you can be sued.

    For what specifically? Something to do with wiretapping.
  • 02-01-2016, 12:13 PM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Quote:

    Quoting plushevyitigr
    View Post
    I have just received a bullying voicemail from somebody. If I were to make it public - primarily, in order to shame the bully - what are potential legal repercussions to me?

    That will depend upon the full facts of the situation, which are not known to us.

    If you want to try to embarrass somebody by posting a recording online, you should discuss the details with your lawyer before you act.

    Quote:

    Quoting plushevyitigr
    View Post
    Something to do with wiretapping.

    No, it's not wiretapping.
  • 02-01-2016, 02:24 PM
    flyingron
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Copyright infringement is a start.
    Those words are not yours.
  • 02-01-2016, 02:35 PM
    Mr. Knowitall
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Assuming that there is enough originality to the content of a voice mail message to justify copyright protection, it is difficult to envision a circumstance in which such a claim could actually support an award of damages.
  • 02-01-2016, 03:13 PM
    adjusterjack
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Quote:

    Quoting plushevyitigr
    View Post
    For what specifically? Something to do with wiretapping.

    No.

    Something like defamation.

    While publishing truth is a defense against a defamation lawsuit, it doesn't prevent the lawsuit from being delivered to your door.

    Once that happens, how would you like to spend many thousands of dollars on a lawyer just because you were so small minded as to feel compelled to go tit for tat with the loser who sent you the voice mail.

    I'm sure that there is more to the story about how this voice mail came about but my advice to you is ignore it, block the persons number, take the high road and have nothing more to do with that person.

    Nothing good will come of escalating.
  • 02-11-2016, 12:05 AM
    plushevyitigr
    Re: Legality of Copying and Publicizing a Voicemail
    Quote:

    Quoting adjusterjack
    View Post
    No.

    Something like defamation.

    While publishing truth is a defense against a defamation lawsuit, it doesn't prevent the lawsuit from being delivered to your door.

    Once that happens, how would you like to spend many thousands of dollars on a lawyer just because you were so small minded as to feel compelled to go tit for tat with the loser who sent you the voice mail.

    I'm sure that there is more to the story about how this voice mail came about but my advice to you is ignore it, block the persons number, take the high road and have nothing more to do with that person.

    Nothing good will come of escalating.

    100% it would be great to be able never again to deal with the individual but that is likely not feasible for me. So sadly I am not able to fully follow your advice.

    He is not quite an angry loser type but rather a multimillionaire who is trying to use his money and status to intimidate people. And I just sort of wanted to publicize his threats in order to show him that not everyone he comes across is a pushover.

    Quote:

    Quoting flyingron
    View Post
    Copyright infringement is a start.
    Those words are not yours.

    True.

    But they are hardly original either.

    If anything, he should fear being sued for copyright infringement by mob members and the makers of mob movies as he is fond of saying "you don't know who I am", "I can bring the wrath of God on you", "I can destroy you" and the like:)
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