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Dutch Court Orders Lycos to Reveal Client
linumax writes to tell us InformationWeek is reporting that the Dutch Supreme Court ruled against Lycos last Friday stating that they wrongly protected the identity of a user who posted "slanderous allegations" against an internet postage-stamp dealer. From the article: "The dealer and claimant, identified in court documents only as A. Pessers, took Lycos to court in 2003, seeking the details of its client so he could pursue financial damages allegedly resulting from the allegations."
Not for slander, but because this case has set a precedent that allows the music industry to trample on privacy and retrieve full contact information for anyone who they think *might* have done something that *could* be a violation of a law.
To Terminate, or not to Terminate, that's the question - SCSIROB
I speak Dutch, and searching in google for the seller's name and "postzegels" (Dutch for stamps), I found a thread on the forums of ebay (also in Dutch): http://forums.ebay.nl/thread.jspa?threadID=1000006 05&tstart=120&mod=1093984729600.
Basically there seem to be some complaints, mainly that the guy is too slow (reads his e-mail once per 10 days), he only accepts US$ and no Euro's, a complaint about conversion rates, and one person on the forum had his stamps delivered with some damages. The seller is a lawyer, so going to court is second nature to him.
If only he read his e-mail more frequently and tried to be a salesman instead of a lawyer, this would have been unneccessary it seems.
"It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful." - Anton LaVey
Just like offline, If I call a radio station and slander someone on the air, the radio station and / or the phone company can track it if asked in a legal way, If I post signs on light poles and an officer, or servaelance camera sees me, the company can in court supenas the tape or for the officer to testify, if there is a technical way to provide the tape (i.e. it hasnt been recorded over) and the owner of the tape will not hand it over, that is contempt. What is differant online?
You don't suddenly become free of the responsibility for things you say just because you say them on the internet.
True you don't. But this is about slander.
If some fool gets drunk, gets on line, and says "you are a fucking fag and a criminal and a baby killer" because he's having a bad day, should he be prosecuted? I mean, he defamed someone's character, right?
Traditionally in the US idiots like this are covered by the first amendment and people are expected to be able to see such remarks, and the people that make them, for what they are -- trolls.
Be very interesting to find out what this guy actually said.
I honestly would like your opinion on what Microsoft should do about the MILLIONS of people bashing their software everyday? Microsoft is a company, and people all over the world insult their company and use slanderous words against their software. Should Microsoft find out who these people are online and go after all of them?
A company is a company, big or small. If this guy gets to find out who is talking shit (pardon my language) about his company online, eventually Microsoft will get to as well, and they have A LOT MORE money to take you to court with and ruin your life...
Actually, that is not true. You can say 'nazi' as much as you want in the Netherlands. If you don't believe me, just watch some Dutch TV. Racism, however, is illegal in most cases, mostly because of the first article of the Dutch Constitution. This does limit free speech a bit, but I personally think it does more good than harm.