IP: Free speech or cyber-slander?

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> X-Sender: freematt () bronze coil com
> Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 10:33:19 -0500
> To: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
> From: Matthew Gaylor <freematt () coil com>
>
> The following story appeared in The Globe Online:
> Date: 2/29/2000
> By Ross Kerber, Globe Staff
> Headline: Free speech or cyber-slander?
> Story Intro:
>
> Cyberspace has become less anonymous as companies use libel suits to find 
> and unmask their online critics, but now some cyber-chatters are fighting 
> back.  The chatters claim a First Amendment right to post messages on 
> electronic bulletin boards using pseudonyms. They have scored some success 
> in challenging attempts to pry loose their identities from Internet 
> service providers.
>
> The legal battle may alter the balance of power on the Web as chatters try 
> to extend a tradition, dating back to the Federalist Papers of 1787, which 
> respects unsigned opinions. Yet never before has anonymity applied to an 
> arena as broad as the Internet, where commercial interests are swamping 
> the network's libertarian roots.
>
> If you're interested in the rest of this story point your
> web browser to:
>
> http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/060/business/Free_speech_or_cyber_sl 
> ander_+.shtml
>
> (You can easily copy and paste the URL above into the location line of 
> your browser.)
>
> Regards,  Matt-
>
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