Nearly half (46%) of internet users favor the creation of a voluntary code of conduct for bloggers and online commentators, shows a survey by legal firm DLA Piper.

Bloggers were fairly evenly split: 32% supported the application of a code reflecting laws on defamation, intellectual property and incitement, while 34% were opposed.   

According to Duncan Calow, a DLA Piper media law specialist, there is a "dangerous perception" among web users that user-generated content is "immune to the law." Three-quarters of users who had posted comments or blogged online were oblivious to libel law, while only 1 in 3 had actually read the terms and conditions of the sites they frequent.

"The combination of confusion and complacency about the relationship between the law and UGC puts users at risk as they come under increasing scrutiny online," Calow said.

Although some users will inevitably ignore the small print, online sites, newspapers included, should perhaps make the possible legal ramifications more visible. The other option is proactively fighting bad behavior by commentators.

Source: MediaGuardian