QUOTE(AlioTheFool @ Thu 26th March 2009, 2:58pm)
I just want to say that it's not true that Google bombing someone is not harrassment or libel.
But this depends on context, does it not? If someone Google-bombs you with the phrase "super-wonderful person," or "supreme benefit to society," that's obviously not libel - and is it even "harassment"? (I wouldn't think so?)
It seems to me that Google-bombing is just... Google-bombing. Just because it seems to be used maliciously in most cases doesn't mean it's used maliciously, or for spamming purposes, in all cases. In fact, it's quite possible that "nice" Google-bombing happens more than we realize, and that it just doesn't get reported on.
Also bear in mind that at least in the US, truth is still considered an iron-clad defense against libel. That may be changing, as courts and politicians inevitably choose the wrong solution for the relatively simple problem of how to define the term "publisher" with respect to websites, but for now at least...