BizSugar.com › Legal › They Said What!? A Startup’s Guide to Handling Internet Trash Talk

Over 80% of North Americans read – and trust – online consumer reviews. As a result, a single, negative evaluation – posted online for the world to see – can stall a startup in its tracks.

With so many consumer review websites in operation, the practice of paying for fake, negative reviews, to sabotage a competitor, is becoming distressingly common. Many people think they won’t get caught if they follow a few simple cloaking measures. But they’re mistaken. It’s possible to get a court order compelling Internet service providers and websites to hand over identifying information in service of a lawsuit.