Revision Legal is an internet law firm with an office in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. We represent businesses and individuals in online defamation cases, platform disputes, e-commerce legal matters, and the full range of legal issues that arise from doing business on the internet.
Internet Law Practice Areas
- Online Defamation — Pursuing or defending claims involving false and damaging statements published online, on review sites, social media, and competing websites.
- Content Takedowns — Removing defamatory content, stolen images, infringing material, and unauthorized use of your business’s name or brand from the internet.
- E-Commerce Law — Legal support for online sellers and marketplace operators, including Amazon and Etsy policy violations, account suspensions, and seller disputes.
- Website & Terms Disputes — Drafting and enforcing website terms of service, privacy policies, and user agreements; handling breach and misuse claims.
- Platform & Social Media Law — Account disputes, content removal appeals, Section 230 issues, and platform terms enforcement.
- Domain Name Disputes — UDRP proceedings and cybersquatting litigation to recover domains misused by third parties.
- Trade Secret & Non-Compete — Protecting confidential business information and enforcing or challenging restrictive covenants in an online business context.
Learn more about our internet law practice, including online defamation matters, domain name disputes, and website terms of service and privacy policies.
Internet Law for Northern Michigan Businesses
Traverse Connect, the lead economic development organization for the Grand Traverse region, describes the area as the economic hub of Northern Michigan, with companies in manufacturing, technology, and agriculture. Many of those businesses now sell, recruit, and market online. Whether you operate a direct-to-consumer product brand, a subscription software service, a content platform, or a retail business with a significant online presence, internet legal issues can arise without warning and require fast, informed handling.
John Di Giacomo, Revision Legal’s founding partner, has represented clients in defamation cases, platform disputes, and e-commerce litigation in federal courts across the country. His background in technology law helps clients work through legal problems that many general-practice attorneys rarely encounter.
Timing matters in online reputation cases. Under Michigan law, the limitations period for an action charging libel or slander is one year (MCL 600.5805(11)), so a business that waits to act on a false review or post can lose the ability to sue. Federal law adds another layer: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally prevents a website or platform from being treated as the publisher of content provided by its users, which shapes whether a claim should target the platform, the author, or both.
Which Courts Hear Traverse City Internet Law Cases
Grand Traverse County is part of the Southern Division of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Internet disputes that raise federal claims — such as cybersquatting under the Lanham Act or copyright claims tied to a takedown fight — are commonly filed there when the defendant is in Northern Michigan, and appeals from that court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
State-law claims such as defamation, breach of website terms, or tortious interference can also be brought in state court. The 13th Circuit Court serves Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties, and its main office is at 328 Washington Street in Traverse City. Choosing the right forum early affects cost, speed, and which procedural rules apply.
Serving Traverse City and Northern Michigan
From our Traverse City office we serve clients throughout Northern Michigan, including Petoskey, Charlevoix, Cadillac, Elk Rapids, and the broader Grand Traverse region. We handle internet law matters for clients throughout Michigan and across the United States — most cases can be managed entirely remotely.
Talk to a Traverse City Internet Lawyer
If you are dealing with an online legal problem, call our Traverse City office at 231.714.0100 or contact us online. Our office in downtown Traverse City is home to the firm’s founding attorneys; see Traverse City office details.
Revision Legal — Traverse City
444 Cass Street, Suite D
Traverse City, MI 49684
231.714.0100
Traverse City Internet Law FAQ
How long do I have to sue over a defamatory online review in Michigan?
Michigan generally allows one year to file an action charging libel or slander under MCL 600.5805(11). Because online posts can spread and be archived quickly, preserve screenshots, URLs, and dates as soon as you find the content, and speak with an internet lawyer well before that deadline approaches so there is time to evaluate removal and legal options.
Can I make a review site or social platform take down a false post?
Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act generally prevents platforms from being treated as the publisher of content their users provide, so suing the platform itself is often not the right path. Removal usually runs through the platform’s own content policies, a claim against the person who wrote the post, or a court order finding the content defamatory.
Where would an internet law lawsuit from Grand Traverse County be filed?
It depends on the claims. Cases raising federal questions, such as cybersquatting, are generally filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, whose Southern Division includes Grand Traverse County. Claims based only on Michigan law, such as defamation between Michigan parties, are often filed in the 13th Circuit Court, which serves Antrim, Grand Traverse, and Leelanau counties.
Can I recover a domain name that uses my business name?
It may be possible. Under the UDRP, which applies to many common domain extensions, a trademark owner can seek transfer of a domain that is identical or confusingly similar to its mark when the registrant has no legitimate interest in it and registered and used it in bad faith. A federal cybersquatting lawsuit is another option and can allow a court to award statutory damages.
Do I have to meet in person at the Traverse City office?
No. Our Traverse City office at 444 Cass Street, Suite D is available for meetings, but most internet law matters can be handled by phone, video conference, and email. We represent clients throughout Northern Michigan, elsewhere in Michigan, and in other states, so distance from downtown Traverse City is rarely an obstacle to getting started.
More Practice Areas — Traverse City
Our Traverse City office handles the full range of internet and intellectual property law matters for Northern Michigan clients.
Revision Legal — Traverse City — office information, address & hours →