Here's a (long) URL to another article on the same topic: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/RTGAMArticleHTMLTemplate/C,B/20020221/wscoc2102?hub=homeBN&tf=tgam%252Frealtime%252Ffullstory.html&cf=tgam/realtime/config-neutral&vg=BigAdVariableGenerator&slug=wscoc2102&date=20020221&archive=RTGAM&site=Front&ad_pa -Declan ----- Forwarded message from owner-politechat_private ----- From: "Michael Gurstein" <mgurstat_private> To: "Politech@Politechbot. Com" <politechat_private> Subject: FW: [CPI-UA]: Important free speech decision Supreme Court Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2002 11:24:31 -0500 I think this may be of interest to your readers. Mike Gurstein Michael Gurstein, Ph.D. (Visiting) Professor: School of Management New Jersey Institute of Technology Newark, NJ --------------------------------------------- >From the (Toronto) Globe and Mail: =================================== Consumer beefs part of free speech Supreme Court strikes down bylaw that barred sign denouncing company By KIRK MAKIN Friday, February 22, 2002 Print Edition, Page A5 JUSTICE REPORTER -- The Supreme Court of Canada struck a strong blow for free speech yesterday, ruling that consumers enjoy a vital constitutional right to publicly criticize companies, products and services. "This type of communication may be of considerable social importance -- even beyond the merely commercial sphere," Mr. Justice Louis LeBel wrote for a 9-0 majority. The court ruled that Canadians have a right to express their dissatisfaction via conventional media, the Internet and on signs. "It is a form of expression of opinion that has an important effect on the social and economic life of a society," Judge LeBel wrote. "It is a right not only of consumers but of citizens." The appellant, Roger Guignard, is a Quebecker who fought city hall after being convicted of illegally posting a sign in a residential area. The sign violated a City of Saint-Hyacinthe bylaw. Mr. Guignard's sign -- posted on a building he owned -- denounced his insurance company for not having paid a claim filed several months earlier. He supplied the dates of the claim on the sign and wrote: "Commerce Group -- The Incompetent Insurance Company Has Still Not Indemnified Me." [...] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- Declan McCullagh's politics and technology mailing list You may redistribute this message freely if you include this notice. Declan McCullagh's photographs are at http://www.mccullagh.org/ To subscribe to Politech: http://www.politechbot.com/info/subscribe.html This message is archived at http://www.politechbot.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------
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