Gossip Web site debuts in Wilmington, legal questions surface

WILMINGTON (AP) — A new Web site in Wilmington hopes to provide a forum for the kinds of things organizers say are part of every-day conversation.

But legal questions are being raised about GossipReport.com, which allows anonymous users to post messages and photos. A similar site, DontDateHimGirl.com, was sued after one man disputed claims Web site users made about him.

That lawsuit was dismissed on technicalities.

Amanda Martin is an attorney for the North Carolina Press Association. Martin says holding Web sites accountable for the posts would be similar to blaming the telephone company for comments made on its network.