It should be your right, but in some states they can intimidate you with lawsuits called SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation).
One would assume a company that made good products and valued its reputation would try to resolve problems instead of resorting to these slimy tactics, and you're right.
But the sleazier the company, the more likely they are to resort to this sort of legalistic thuggery.
One advantage for the aggrieved student featured in the article: He's got precious little to lose and no assets. They can't get blood out of a stone.
And I'm sure there are lots of eager-beaver pro bono lawyers out there who'll be happy to take on his case.
Plus, if his Facebook page now has 12,000 members, he's got lots of potential allies in any spitting contest.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/us/01slapp.html?th&emc=th
