The floodgates have been open for those bullied online to sue their tormentors, a US lawyer claims.
Since a US judge ordered Google to hand over the email address of a woman calling another a "skank" in a blog, those who have been anonymously slagged off in blogs have some hope of fighting back, according lawyer Steven Wagner.
"People are saying, 'I'm not going to take it anymore'." Mr Wagner is quoted by the New York Post as saying.
He acted on behalf of model Liskula Cohen who wanted to know who was anonymously calling her a skank online.
A judge then ordered Google to turnover information about a blogger called Rosemary Hart, so that a suit of defamation could be prepared.
According to internet attorney John Dozier Jr, the decision has given hope to others whose reputations and businesses have been ruined by smear campaigns.
"All of a sudden, people are saying, 'Hey, you can beat Google'," Dozier was quoted as saying.
The Post lists other cases which may benefit from the new disclosure precedent, including one business owner whose name, when Googled, calls up a false website in which a competitor anonymously claims that the business is a sham.
Google allegedly refused to take down the defamatory website.
Dozier is also targeting a “virtual hit man” who allegedly launched two fake sites claiming his client worked as a prostitute and struggles with heroin addiction.
He says both claims are completely untrue and plans to use the new precedent to get Google to hand over vital records.
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