http://www.boingboing.net/2004/10/09/howto_censor_the_net.html

HOWTO censor the net with a Hotmail account Alex sez, "Members of the Bits of Freedom group conducted a test to see how much it would take for a service provider to take down a website hosting public domain material. They signed up with 10 providers and put online a work by Duthc author Multatuli, who died over 100 years ago. They stated that the work was in the public domain, and that it was written in 1871. They then set up a fake society to claim to be the copyright holders of the work. From a Hotmail address, they sent out complaints to all 10 of the providers. 7 out of 10 complied and removed the site, one within just 3 hours. Only one ISP actually pointed out that the copyright on the work expired many years ago. The conclusion of the investigation is worth reading, it starts 'It only takes a Hotmail account to bring a website down, and freedom of speech stands no chance in front of the Texan-style private ISP justice.'" 244K PDF Link http://www.bof.nl/docs/researchpaperSANE.pdf

=== An illustration of why it's a good idea for people with critical sites to try to make sure that their hosting provider understands the issues involved with CoS's frequently fraudulant copyright claims. Myself, I'd make sure that no site of mine was in reach of the DMCA but that might not be a shield in light of yesterday's takedown of a _UK_ site by the _FBI_. (Reports are still a little confused about that.) http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/08/fbi_indymedia_raids/

-- Ron of that ilk.

Go Back