Yelp reviews issue goes to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — A closely watched Internet free-speech case is headed to the Virginia Supreme Court this month, with many businesses that live and die by online reviews rooting for the owner of a small, suburban carpet cleaner, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received more than 2,046 complaints filed about Yelp from 2008 through March 4, with most of the complaints coming from small businesses that “claim to have received unfair or fraudulent reviews, often after turning down a pitch to advertise on the site,” the article stated.

According to the article, this month the Supreme Court could issue an order granting or denying Yelp's appeal, or schedule a hearing in Richmond, which could take place in the next 90-120 days.

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