Thursday, October 23, 2014
As a tech firm, you expect
your staff to be proficient in coding languages like JavaScript, C++,
and Objective C. Like any business, though, you also deal with a more
universal language: English.
That’s right, regardless
of industry, strong communication skills is a must not just in
keeping your employees informed of project requirements, but also in
getting the word out about your products and services.
Unfortunately, words can
also get you in trouble. For instance, if you say that a competitor’s
software has security vulnerabilities, they may very well sue you for
defamation, especially if they believe your claim to be false.
Basically, defamation is
when someone makes an incorrect statement about another party that
results in their suffering. In the case mentioned above, your
allegation might deter people from buying said software, which may
ultimately cause the competing firm’s stock price to fall.
If your defamatory
statement
is spoken or oral, you will be slapped with a slander case. If it is
written down, like a press release, news item, or even a blog post,
you’ll be facing a libel suit.
Of course, legal proceedings
are very expensive, and if your company happens to be a startup, the
legal costs may cause it to go under. So aside from getting health
insurance for your employees, be sure to get general liability
insurance as well, since it also covers litigation expenses
associated with defamation lawsuits.
