The district court held that Congress intended that provision to encourage websites to create forums for people to exchange thoughts and ideas by protecting interactive computer services from potential liability for each post submitted by their users.

This intent was upheld by circuit court precedents including Carafano v. Metrosplash.com and Zeran v. America Online, Inc., thus shielding MySpace from legal liability for the actions of its users.

The district court also held that the plaintiffs failed to make a compelling claim that MySpace had committed fraud or engaged in negligent misrepresentation.

"[5] Thus, the court found that the plaintiffs had failed to state a claim for negligence because MySpace had no duty to protect its user Julie Doe from Solis's criminal sexual assault.

[1] The plaintiffs also argued that even though MySpace was not specifically a publisher under the law, it still had enough influence in designing the "virtual world" of its site that it bore some responsibility for the illegal behavior of its users.

[8] Julie Doe and her mother attempted to appeal the Fifth Circuit ruling in favor of MySpace to the Supreme Court of the United States, but certiorari was denied.