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Date Posted: Tue, Apr 13 2004, 13:03:29
Author: MKIceman
Subject: Re: Previous Post (lawsuit against free provider)
In reply to: Catseye 's message, "Reminds me of the Law & Order conversation me and Snorkle had..." on Tue, Apr 13 2004, 12:44:50

>...because, see, if we had Jack McCoy to defend us,
>GAFF would rise from the ashes!

Or Denzel Washington (from "Philadelphia Story"). Hey, don't forget about Joe Pesci ("My Cousin Vinny"). :D

>the evidence to the DA, and are told that it's not
>sufficient. 37 minutes in, a new witness comes forward
>with a whole new angle on the case. 44 minutes in,
>some amazing new piece of evidence is uncovered,

Similar to "C.S.I." Two of my favorite shows, but, like Star Trek (TNG has always been my absolute favorite), they rely upon plot devices. This is why I don't criticize plot device use too harshly!

>I very much doubt it, for the reasons you stated, but
>it does make me wonder. Do large providers of free web
>services, like GeoCities or ff.net, ever get
>threatened with legal action by an exceptionally
>annoyed brat with too much money and not enough sense?

No respectable attorney would accept the case since they would only be losing money and time rather than making it. Furthermore, judges have to prioritize what goes to trial and what doesn't, so self-defeating cases like these would almost never make it (unless it involved more important or controversial issues, like prejudice).

>Most people with the money to spend on that kind of
>threat would be using a paid service in the first
>place, but on free providers with literally millions
>of subscribers, there might just be one or two who'd
>try something like that.

I can't speak to that point, but I can tell you about AOL, and the lawsuit filed by millions of users for false advertising and fraud. This lawsuit was filed -- and won -- by mostly non-paying users, who were using the free trial version only to find that, despite ceasing to use the free trial before it expired, they were still forced to pay once the trial period lapsed. This was a clear violation on AOL's part of their own contract.

--Matt

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