-- Prepare an action plan to deal with user complaints about postings, including under what circumstances postings will be removed and how the poster can attempt to restore the posting.

-- Regularly review and monitor postings on your Web site, especially if you allow others to post comments directly without editing.

Finally, if you find yourself either being defamed or otherwise harmed by material on the Internet, or if you have been accused of doing so, you should immediately seek legal counsel regarding your rights and potential defenses to such claims.

-- Marshall Seeder is a member of the litigation group of Sachnoff & Weaver Ltd. focusing on business, intellectual property and transportation litigation. He can be reached at mseeder@sachnoff.com. Peter T. Berk is a member of the litigation group at Sachnoff & Weaver representing clients in online and off-line litigation and intellectual property matters. He can be reached at pberk@sachnoff.com.