Judge: Korbel may get IDs of anonymous critics

Comcast customers who posted potentially libelous statements about Korbel Champagne Cellars anonymously on the Internet will be alerted that their identities will be revealed to Korbel if they don’t file a legal challenge, a Sonoma County judge ruled Wednesday.

Judge Gary Nadler issued the order after no opposition appeared in court to contest Korbel’s request.

Korbel has sought the identities of as many as 10 unnamed people who posted negative comments about the wine, champagne and brandy producer on Craigslist. The company argues that the comments are libelous, false and have hurt the company’s reputation.

The postings on a Craigslist forum accused Korbel of plotting to cut down redwood forests on its Guerneville property and of punishing employees who reported sexual harassment. Other posts alleged Korbel bribed law enforcement and court authorities to keep the company out of trouble.

Korbel is seeking damages and an injunction barring the unidentified writers from posting such comments. It filed a legal request late last year seeking the names attached to Internet Protocol addresses Korbel alleges are responsible for the postings.

A Korbel public relations spokesman declined to comment. A Comcast spokesman didn’t return a call seeking comment.

Nadler’s ruling orders Comcast to alert affected subscribers within a week of the ruling. The subscribers will then have one month to contest the order and seek a ruling protecting their identity.

The order compelling Comcast to turn over documents identifying subscribers is stayed until Nadler rules on any opposition.

Defamation suits based on anonymous Web comments are becoming more common with the explosion of Internet traffic.

Last week, a Maryland court ruled that operators of newspaper Web sites, blogs and chat rooms that allow readers to post anonymous comments do not have to readily reveal the posters’ identities in defamation suits, the Washington Post reported.