Google was one of the firms backing the appeal
Bloggers and US internet providers cannot be liable for posting defamatory comments written by third parties, the California Supreme Court has ruled.
It followed the case of San Diego woman sued after posting allegedly libellous comments online about two doctors.

Some of the internet's biggest names including Google, eBay and Amazon have supported a woman in a US legal battle that may save them from libel cases.

The judges said the ruling would protect freedom of expression.

full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6167930.stm