I don't really see the purpose of Yelp if reviews can not be 'raw' and 'uncensored'. The reason we all use yelp is because we won't get some boilerplate testimonial- rather we will get the gritty details whether good or bad.
I can see the effects its having on some businesses. My suggestion to those businesses: focus on good customer service
Good Customer service means bugger all when negative reviews are being posted by people who are not customers in an attempt to sabotage the business. (Like competitors as suspected by the company in the article)
Like this guy[1], who posted a sign on the window of his restaurant calling concealed carry holders 'douchebags'. Overnight, he went from a 3.5 star rating to a 1 star rating, with many of the reviewers referencing the sign, and others fabricating (I assume at least) that they saw roaches, fingernails in the food, that sort of thing.
The owner has since, it seems, deleted his restaurant's Yelp profile altogether, undoubtedly because no Yelp presence is likely better than tens of thousands of 1-star reviews.
I can see the effects its having on some businesses. My suggestion to those businesses: focus on good customer service