Verizon ordered to disclose subscriber name

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: "Kevin G. Barkes" <kgb () kgb com>
Date: Tue, 21 Jan 2003 14:56:11 -0800
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Verizon ordered to disclose subscriber name

Verizon Is Ordered to Give
Name of User in Music Dispute

By ANNA WILDE MATHEWS
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL


In a victory for entertainment companies that are seeking to defend their
works against digital copying, a federal judge ordered Verizon
Communications Inc. to turn over the name of an Internet subscriber who
allegedly made songs broadly available online.

The decision from the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., concerned a
subpoena that record-label members of the Recording Industry Association of
America had sent to Verizon's Internet unit, demanding that it turn over the
name of a subscriber who was allegedly distributing hundreds of songs
online. In a written opinion, Judge John D. Bates said that he granted the
"RIAA's motion to enforce, and orders Verizon to comply with the properly
issued and supported subpoena from RIAA seeking the identity of the alleged
infringer."

Verizon had refused to comply with the subpoena, arguing it wasn't obligated
to produce the name of its subscriber.

The issue has drawn close attention from entertainment companies and
technology concerns, as well as Internet consumer-rights advocates. The
record labels drew backing from the Motion Picture Association of America.
For its part, Verizon drew supportive briefs from an array of technology
interests.


Regards,

KGB

-----
Kevin G. Barkes
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