1998: Amway and Ashley Wilkes

May 11, 1998. Amway Corporation sent a letter to the University of Minnesota regarding the web site of Ashley Wilkes. In their letter, Amway Corporation accuses Wilkes of libel and defamation. They also suggest that Wilkes, who receives e-mail and web hosting services as part of his employment package at the University, is violating the University's policy regarding use of the internet. Amway also suggests that he is using University time to pursue his personal vendetta against Amway.

Amway's letter states, in part:

May 11, 1998 by telecopier AND MAIL University of Minnesota Networking and Telecommunications Services 2221 University Ave, SE Suite 145 Minneapolis, MN 55455-0134

Re: http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/m307/wilke001/ and related pages, including:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/m307/wilke001/LowndesPage2.html

Dear Sir: Amway Corporation has asked me to contact you about a series of web pages in the University of Minnesota Internet domain that contain defamatory and libelous statements about Amway and its millions of independent distributors.

This material, which is published at
http://www.tc.umn.edu/nlhome/m307/wilke001/amway.html, and related pages, also appears to violate several of the University's rules for use of its Internet facilities.

The author of this material identifies himself as Ashley Wilkes, a University of Minnesota employee, with an e-mail address at wilke001@maroon.tc.umn.edu. Mr. Wilkes uses his web pages to explain that he is attacking Amway and Amway distributors because he blames them for his personal problems. . .

Amway Corporation and its Founders have championed American freedoms for more than 30 years, including freedom of speech.

Amway respects Mr. Wilkes right to differ and to speak his mind. We have no wish to stifle honest disagreement. However, the First Amendment confers no right to defame or libel.

Our review of the University's published policies governing use of its Internet facilities particularly by University employees like Mr. Wilkes indicates that you do not permit your facilities to be misused in this manner.

We invite you to view Mr. Wilkes material and take whatever steps you think are appropriate to cause him to comply with your policies and the law.

Here are some examples of the kind of material Mr. Wilkes is publishing over the Universitys [sic] facilities. . .

There are a number of very interesting factors in this attempt by Amway to silence Mr. Wilkes, and we will discuss just a few of them. Mr. Wilkes has already responded on his web site to Amway's attack.