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The lawyer for the New York-based online review site told Ars on Monday that the lawsuit [PDF] was “bunk,” that its demands amount to a prior restraint of speech, and that the site itself is protected from defamation charges under the Communications Decency Act because it hosts the online review forum for others to use.

“Essentially, what they are saying, is my client is defaming them by allowing these negative reviews to be published. And that my client is engaged in tortious interference with their relationships with their customers, and that my client is practicing unfair and trade-deceptive practices,” said attorney Marc Randazza in a telephone interview.