Does a publisher or website have liability for third-party comments posted to its site?

In North Carolina, a publisher or website may have liability for third-party comments posted to its site depending on the circumstances. Generally, the publisher or website will not be held liable for comments posted by third parties, as long as the website or publisher is not the one who made the statement. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if the publisher or website has reason to know that a third-party post is defamatory but fails to remove it, then they may be held liable for any damages caused by the statement. Additionally, if the publisher or website itself makes defamatory statements or encourages third parties to make false statements, then it may be held liable for any damages caused. Another factor to consider is whether or not the publisher or website takes reasonable steps to prevent defamatory statements from being posted. If they do not, then they may be held liable for failing to act in a reasonable manner to protect their users. Ultimately, the liability of a publisher or website for third-party comments is largely dependent on the individual circumstances of each case. Generally, the publisher or website will not be held liable unless they are responsible for the statement, fail to act reasonably to prevent it, or encourage others to make false statements. As such, it is important for a publisher or website to be aware of their legal obligations in North Carolina and take reasonable steps to protect their users.

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Does a publisher or website have liability for third-party comments posted to its site?

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