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The allegations are demonstrably false, since many businesses that advertise on Yelp have both negative and positive reviews.

I don't see how that demonstrates the allegations are false. It demonstrates that there must not have been an extortion scheme that every business paid into.

Update: see mustpax's comment. Yelp is making a statement about businesses which have paid them.

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That, plus they obviously they wouldn't alter or remove all bad reviews. That would be brain-deadeningly obvious.

I personally know of somebody who had their review deleted on Citysearch. She felt violated. If Citysearch does it, I wouldn't be surprised if their competitors do the same.

since many businesses that advertise on Yelp

They are talking about the business that have already "shelled out." They still have negative comments posted, so they can't be removing all of them by paying. Or, so claims Yelp.

Ah, I see. That makes a little more sense then.

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