P2PNet has won what is Torrentfreak is rightfully describing as a landmark win for freedom of speech on the Internet.

Canadian businessman Wayne Crookes sued P2PNet alleging they had defamed him when they linked to articles that he did not like.

Showing an extremely rare display of common sense when it comes to technical and Internet related matters, the court disagreed with Crookes assessment:

"Although a hyperlink provides immediate access to material published on another website, this does not amount to republication of the content on the originating site. This is especially so as a reader may or may not follow the hyperlinks provided."

This decision is good news for bloggers for obvious reasons, but it also shows that not all courts are clueless when it comes to these matters.