I lived overseas when the Mac came out in 1984, and when I got back to the states in 1985, the first computer I saw was the Amiga. It was impressive. I remember how disappointed I was when I finally saw a Mac some months later.
I talked to an attorney friend of mine regarding this. He know the SLAPP statute inside and out, and has never lost a SLAP case. Here's his response:
"Communicating facts to the government is protected petitioning activity," says the response, even when the communication of those facts would normally be illegal or would violate a company's owner promises to its customers. Verizon argues that, if the EFF and other groups have concerns about customer call records, the only proper remedy "is to impose restrictions on the government, not on the speaker's right to communicate."
First, there are privacy laws that even the Federal Government cannot violate. Did you know that inter-departmental government agencies cannot share private information? Second, the first amendment protection for "petitioning activity" ONLY relates to conduct in preparation of and involving "litigation." There was no litigation. Third, there is an exception to "petitioning activity," but only if the communication is related to a "public issue" or a matter of "great public importance." Fourth, there was no "communication" in that there was no "communicative content to the conduct." In other words, Verizon, by handing over information, wasn't "saying" anything. The conduct was "informative" at best, but certainly not "communicative." They handed over information, that's it. What a bunch of sleeze ball fuckers. I hope the Verizon Customers' have decent attorneys, this argument is a fucking joke.
Slashdot Mirror
I lived overseas when the Mac came out in 1984, and when I got back to the states in 1985, the first computer I saw was the Amiga. It was impressive. I remember how disappointed I was when I finally saw a Mac some months later.
I talked to an attorney friend of mine regarding this. He know the SLAPP statute inside and out, and has never lost a SLAP case. Here's his response:
"Communicating facts to the government is protected petitioning activity," says the response, even when the communication of those facts would normally be illegal or would violate a company's owner promises to its customers. Verizon argues that, if the EFF and other groups have concerns about customer call records, the only proper remedy "is to impose restrictions on the government, not on the speaker's right to communicate."First, there are privacy laws that even the Federal Government cannot violate. Did you know that inter-departmental government agencies cannot share private information? Second, the first amendment protection for "petitioning activity" ONLY relates to conduct in preparation of and involving "litigation." There was no litigation. Third, there is an exception to "petitioning activity," but only if the communication is related to a "public issue" or a matter of "great public importance." Fourth, there was no "communication" in that there was no "communicative content to the conduct." In other words, Verizon, by handing over information, wasn't "saying" anything. The conduct was "informative" at best, but certainly not "communicative." They handed over information, that's it. What a bunch of sleeze ball fuckers. I hope the Verizon Customers' have decent attorneys, this argument is a fucking joke.
This will mean a lot to the dozens of customers who have purchased the Zune. Thanks Microsoft.