Blogger under fire

Alastair Otter

Alastair Otter is a senior journalist at MyBroadband, and focuses on software and hardware. He has a particular love for Open Source Software (OSS)...

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South African blogger Donn Edwards is being sued by RCI-affiliated Quality Vacation Club (QVC) for R461 500 for allegedly defaming the organisation. According to the Sunday Independent, Edwards has filed a motion to defend himself against the charges.

Edwards attracted the attention of QVC when he wrote a blog post earlier this year in which he criticised the organisation for deceiving him into attending a timeshare sales presentation.

Edwards said that he was contacted by QVC and told that he had won a prize of a car in a competition. He and his wife attended the agreed presentation but he did not win the vehicle and was subjected to a timeshare sales presentation.

Edwards wrote about his experience of being "misled" on his blog and warned others to be aware of agents phoning them with promises of prizes. He also wrote that despite having attended the presentation and subsequently asking that his details be removed from QVC and its agent’s lists, he was again contacted six weeks later with the same offer.   

Following his original blog posting Edwards was contacted by QVC who initially wanted to meet with him and discuss the issue but after that meeting failed to materialise he was issued with legal papers.

Dave Feldman, QVC’s lawyer, confirmed to The Sunday Independent that the company was indeed suing Edwards for R461 500.

MyBroadband discussion on this case: Beleaguered blogger