Will Newspaper's Suit Against Malaysian Bloggers Embolden Others?

Nathaniel Tan, proprietor of the Malaysian blog jelas.info,  contends in a January 18, 2007, letter to the editor at  MalaysiaKini that "New Straits Times Press' (NSTP)  defamation lawsuit against Screenshots blogger Jeff Ooi  and Rocky’s Bru blogger Ahirudin bin Atan will draw "public scrutiny" and "embolden bloggers even more."

He has a point. I will definitely keep my eye on this case.

Tan's January 18, 2007, Jelas.Info post headlined "NSTP vs. Bloggers and the Truth: Like an embarrassed animal in a corner" provides some background on the issue.

"I understand that the exact posts in question [for which the bloggers were sued] have yet to be revealed, but it seems reasonable to assume (especially given the list of people suing) that directly or indirectly, this involves the case of Brendan Pereira’s alleged plagiarism," Tan wrote at MalaysiaKini. The NSTP appears to have foregone an opportunity to let this fade away into forgotten history."

"Ultimately, however, by seeking vengeance on this matter, they will only be drawing public scrutiny to the very things that will shame them the most." See this Jeff Ooi comparison of articles written by Pereira and Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom.

Albom's column headlined "Remembering the day before the day" was published on September 10, 2006 and Pereira's column headlined "How Dearly We Miss June 6" was published on October 30, 2006. The next day Ahirudin bin Atan published "BRENDAN MEETS ALBOM.

 Is it plagiarism? 

For more background see "Malaysia editor in plagiarism row" and  "Malaysian Bloggers Jeff Ooi And Ahirudin bin Atan Sued.

Also see "Southeast Asian Press Alliance Opposes Legal Action Against Bloggers.