The judge allowed lawyers to e-mail copies of his order to anyone distributing the method.
Critics say it's unworkable because e-mail can be falsified or forged so easily.
And unlike with human delivery, it can be nearly impossible to verify that an e-mail subpoena was served successfully. It also reveals the product's entire list of more than 100,000 Internet sites deemed unsuitable for children. The hackers embarrassed the filtering software's manufacturer, Microsystems Inc., by revealing the non-pornographic sites blocked by Cyber Patrol, including Planned Parenthood and several First Amendment advocacy organizations. Microsystems alleged that the pair violated U.S. copyright law when they reverse-engineered Cyber Patrol to analyze it. The two experts, Eddy L.O. Jansson of Sweden and Skala of Canada, haven't formally responded to the charges, although Skala is retaining a lawyer and facing a parallel suit in Canada.