WATERLOG LEGAL THREATS

[Nick]

Once again YBW's forum has pulled a fascinating thread about the existence or non-existence of the fabled Waterlog towed watermaker. This was a thread started by Ongolo with the post reproduced here on the Gear and Gadgets forum.

Waterlog's threat and IPC's (very measured) response are reproduced below.

As this is a private forum and I have no money anyone is welcome to post here and Waterlog are welcome to sue the arse off me . . .

Quote:
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Facilitation of libel and malicious falsehood
From: Waterlog_response
Dear Mr Hollamby,

Re: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showflat.php/ ... er/665170/

Once again we must ask you to deal with a thread on your YBW forum.

It will be appreciated if you will confirm, by return, that the thread will be pulled forthwith or before 12.00 hours, midday, today at latest.

Yours sincerely,

Edward Boyle,

Waterlog U.k. Ltd.



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As is standard practice we have removed the thread pending investigation of the complaint and notified the legal team here at IPC. A reply has been sent to Waterlog UK Ltd seeking clarification as to exactly which parts of the thread comprise, in its view libel and malicious falsehood - once I am in receipt of that information I will consider what aspects of the thread can be reinstated.

I have also circulated all relevant editors and technical editors here to ask what, if any contact, they have had with the product known as Waterlog.

We are also in the process of contacting the French magazine Voile et Voilieres to seek further information regarding the facsmile and translation of its article at http://www.yachtwatermaker.com/articlevf.htm

We can confirm that, contrary to Waterlog_response assertions that Voile et Voilieres has a circulation of 140,00 (sic), the last audited circulation figures that we have access to (2000) was 74,638 as recorded in the most recent edition of IBI's Boating media Guide.

We can confirm that at least one of the Waterlog products has, in the past, been used on an ARC event - it did not feature in the YW survey because only those products featuring on six or more yachts are included in order to achieve a statistical sample. The World Cruising Club has stated it is aware of the product and has not received any complaints about it.

We will examine this year's results, which have just arrived, to see if any Waterlog products are mentioned.

[/quote]

So - if anyone would like to continue the discussion, go for it.

- Nick

[Guest]

Fascinating stuff. I once trawled the internet, and posted some links and quoted some of the more interesting facts. Within 24 hours had a pm from Waterlog people, demanding to know which sites I had gained the information from. I posted that entire PM on the ybw forums. Sadly that along with other Waterlog related posts have long gone.

I really can't see why the manufacturers don't simply reply to the posts, rather than continually go with threats of legal action.

If you are prepared to go with this, I'll do another trawl of internet, and post all links, pro and con, then we should contact the Waterlog people, and ask them to respond?

I'm not entirely negative, there do appear to be happy users out there. I'm just suprised that the inventor is not more willing to put his side across. If I had a product like that, I'd take every chance to promote it, not threaten legal action

BrendanS

[Nick]

. . . but I suspect we will just get the usual legal threats.

I have supported Waterlog in previous discussions and previously included an entry to their site from BlueMoment. I did this because there was never any definite proof that their product didn't exist / work - and it's such a good idea that, like most of us, I wanted to believe in it. However, the circumstantial evidence is now overwhelming.

I thought that Kim had pulled the second Waterlog thread where I put the link to this forum, but he hasn't, it's just quietly dying. Let's hope he reinstates some/all of the original thread after a chat with IPC's legal department - as someone pointed out a bit of investigative journalism would spice the mag up no end.

I look forward to seeing what you can trawl up.

- Nick