So, it seems anonymous bloggers have received a certain degree of protection from the
Delaware Supreme Court.
This case is a victory in the sense that a state Supreme Court has upheld First Amendment protections for bloggers. This does not, however, give carte blanche to anyone who posts anonymously on the Internets.
In a 34-page opinion, the justices said a Superior Court judge should have required Smyrna town councilman Patrick Cahill to make a stronger case that he and his wife, Julia, had been defamed before ordering Comcast Cable Communications to disclose the identities of four anonymous posters to a blog site operated by Independent Newspapers, publisher of the Delaware State News.
If the Cahills had made such a case, these bloggers would be hosed. I've seen posts here and on other (non-political) sites that really turn up the volume on profanity-laden screeds. I guess the lesson to take away from this is that you still have to watch what you say. Defamation can still be an actionable offense, even if committed anonymously.