there's been a lot of unsubstantiated claims coming from a few,...

there's been a lot of unsubstantiated claims coming from a few, without singling out anyone.. I'm just saying be very careful with what you say because there can be dire consequences.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/markets/oil-explorers-cry-foul-over-chat-rooms/story-e6frg91o-1225903247872

Oil explorers cry foul over chat rooms

TWO listed oil explorers are threatening to take legal action against users of stockmarket chat rooms.

The companies accuse some users of the chat rooms of spreading malicious falsehoods in an attempt to drag down share prices.

Nighthawk Energy and Nostra Terra Oil & Gas say that they have identified alleged defamers or market abusers and may take them to court.

David Bramhill, managing director of the AIM-listed Nighthawk Energy, has taken issue with "de-rampers" - pseudonymous chat-room users who have made critical postings about the company and in some cases abusive and personal comments about him.

"I am not against free speech nor against bulletin boards per se, but we have serious concerns and have decided to take action against comments which appear designed to undermine the company and its management," Mr Bramhill said.

He has in his sights what he believes to be online messaging mischief-makers on the bulletin boards of Interactive Investor (iii) and ADVFN - stock market information websites that host online chat rooms or debating communities.

In a statement to the stock exchange, Nighthawk said that six weeks ago it had won a court order to force iii and ADVFN to release personal data that would identify or help to identify the sources of "persistent defamatory and untrue postings".

It said that it believed these postings to be "extremely damaging to the company and its reputation".

Nighthawk said after obtaining the High Court order that "the identities of various individuals behind these postings have now been established and the company and its directors are now considering with their legal advisers instituting civil proceedings against them for defamation".

Separately, Nostra Terra said that it was considering instigating civil actions after gaining a similar court order against iii and ADVFN in July in the wake of what it called "untrue and malicious statements about the company's activities and personnel" on the online message boards.

Britain's Financial Services Authority, which would normally oversee allegations of market abuse, is understood to be monitoring the situation.

Spokesmen for iii and ADVFN declined to comment, other than to say they had acted in accordance with the court orders.