Business Reputation Defense is a strategic legal service that goes beyond simple litigation and involves the proactive protection of a company's image through legal mechanisms. Reputation is one of a company's most valuable intangible assets; a single scandal or targeted disinformation campaign can destroy trust built over years. This service is particularly relevant during crisis situations when negative information spreads in the media or on social networks. Unlike a defamation lawsuit, which is reactive, reputation defense involves prevention, legal communication with the media using the "Right of Reply," and cleaning up the digital space. In Georgia, where the media environment is polarized, businesses often have to justify themselves against unsubstantiated accusations, making qualified legal support critically important.
What does the Business Reputation Defense service cover?
This service combines jurisprudence and crisis management. The main directions are:
- Reputation Risk Audit: Analyzing the company's activities and public communication to identify potential legal threats.
- Exercising the Right of Reply: Legal communication with media outlets (TV, newspapers, online publications) to ensure the company's position is covered in the same format as the accusation.
- Correction and Retraction Demands: Negotiating with publishers to correct or delete false information without going to court.
- Digital Space Legal Cleaning: Procedures for removing illegally posted information from search engines (Google) and social networks (applying Right to be Forgotten principles where applicable).
- Crisis Headquarters Support: Preparing legally sound statement texts together with the PR team.
Common Scenarios and Needs
Reputation defense is necessary in the following cases:
- Journalistic Investigations: When the media prepares a story about the company using incorrect facts. The lawyer intervenes before the story airs to provide evidence and prevent defamation.
- Social Media Bullying: An organized attack on social networks aimed at discrediting the brand.
- Partner Relations: When negative publications scare off investors or banks. An official legal position document is needed.
- Brand Imitation: When another company uses a similar name or logo, causing consumer confusion and reputation damage.
Georgian Legislation and Regulations
The legal foundations for reputation defense are outlined in the Civil Code of Georgia (Article 18), which recognizes a person's right to demand the retraction of information damaging honor and dignity. In relations with the media, the Law of Georgia on Broadcasting and the Code of Conduct for Broadcasters are paramount, obliging media to allocate airtime for a party to reply and to maintain balance. In the digital space, the Law on Personal Data Protection applies, which in certain cases grants the right to stop processing (delete) information, although this law applies to legal entities in a limited manner.
Step-by-Step Process
The reputation defense process begins with identifying the threat. The lawyer analyzes the disseminated material and determines a strategy. The first step is "soft power"—communicating with the editorial office or author, presenting facts, and requesting a correction. Often, the media agrees to state the position to avoid a dispute. If this does not work, an official claim is sent. Concurrently, work is done with search engines to de-index negative links. In extreme cases, the matter moves to court or a regulatory commission (e.g., the Communications Commission).
Why Legal.ge?
Legal.ge gives you access to lawyers who understand not only the law but also media operating principles and PR technologies. Defending business reputation requires speed and delicacy—an overly aggressive legal step can cause the "Streisand effect" (spreading the information even wider). Our specialists will select the optimal strategy to protect your name without unnecessary noise. Trust Legal.ge to guard your image.
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