Remove a listing from my directory?

[UKSBD]

I have had a member here email me about another member who has a listing
in my directory effectively accusing him of selling counterfeit goods and
being a con merchant.

I've only heard one side of the story, the guy obviously has a grievance
with the company registered as he appears to be following him arround
forums slagging him off.

Should I delete the listing or ask for proof first?

[PI Guy]

you are responsable for the content on ur website. What do u think?

[LinkingClever]

I would email the site owner and ask him for his side. You will probably get the oposite of what the other guy said, but to be fair, your not responsible for the site, your only displaying a link to it. Is it a paid listing?
Jay

[UKSBD]

That's just it, I don't know.
Their site looks genuine enough, but I wouldn't know a genuine product
from a fake one. The only complaints I can find about them appear to
all be from the same person.
I'll probably leave it for now unless I get more complaints.

[obscure]

You should remove it. It would appear from the other thread that the site may well be selling counterfeit goods (the Gucci licensing issue raised by one of the posters) but that is irrelevant.

If someone has a complaint against this company they should use the legal protections in place to resolve them (Distance Selling regs and Trading Standards). Their disagreement is nothing to do with you and you shouldn't allow people to use your service for anything other than its intended purpose (the promotion of their own business).

Your directory may be open to public use but it is still your private property. What is more, if it turns out that these allegations are false you might find yourself subject to legal action for failing to remove libellous statements when requested to do so.

If you don't already have one you might want to add a point to your T&C to the effect that users will not post anything obscene or defamatory and that you reserve the right to remove any such posts/entries.