FC: N.J. state judge refuses to unmask anonymous posters

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[Apparently a good decision. But anyone who trusts their anonymity to
Yahoo (which could inadvertently reveal identity because of social
engineering or a glitch) or the court system (laws and interpretations
change) is making the wrong choice. Technological solutions are, in
the long run, far safer. --Declan]


Background:
http://www.cybersecuritieslaw.com/lawsuits/cases_corporate_cybersmears.htm
http://www.newsbytes.com/pubNews/00/156803.html

----- Forwarded message from anonymous () openpgp net -----

From: anonymous () openpgp net
Subject: Judge Backs Anonymous 4 in Case 
To: Multiple recipients of list <cypherpunks () openpgp net>
Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 02:49:34 -0500

ÊÊÊÊÊMORRISTOWN, N.J.--A Superior Court judge has refused to unmask four individuals who posted anonymous online 
messages about a software company. 
ÊÊÊÊÊDendrite International, based in Morristown, wanted the judge to publicly identify the Internet users, who it says 
revealed company secrets and committed libel against Dendrite. 
ÊÊÊÊÊSuperior Court Judge Kenneth C. MacKenzie on Tuesday sided with the defendants. 
ÊÊÊÊÊIn the lawsuit, filed in May, Dendrite alleged false statements about the company were made by three of the 
defendants, and that two who identified themselves as company employees violated their contracts to not criticize the 
company. 
ÊÊÊÊÊDendrite requested that Internet portal Yahoo! release the names of the four, identified in court papers as 
"ajcazz," "gacbar," "xxplrr" and "implementor extrodinaire." 
ÊÊÊÊÊ"By setting forth strict evidentiary standards for compelled identification, and then showing that these standards 
can produce real protection for anonymity, this decision is a tremendous victory for free speech," said Paul Levy, an 
attorney with Public Citizen, the consumer advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader, which intervened in the case on 
behalf of the defendants. 
ÊÊÊÊÊDendrite referred inquiries to their Los Angeles-based lawyer, Robert Bonner, who did not immediately return a 
telephone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.



----- End forwarded message -----



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