The suits are having a chilling effect on the online music business, slowing dozens of entrepreneurs who wanted to sell music in new and intriguing ways. People are looking for more democratic decision-making in a medium that has such widespread consequences for our personal and civic lives. Rate It Vigilante Justice for CyberCriminals - Michael O'Neill aruges that private vigilante justice should be employed to reduce cybercrime. Just as settlers in the old west couldn't necessarily rely upon the local sheriff to provide good crime control, similarly Internet users may have to rely upon private parties for preventing crime and enforcing certain criminal norms. Private vigilante efforts by Internet companies may be the best situation to fend off attacks and to retaliate in kind.
Legal experts say the soundness of such terms is shaky at best.
They say that many of their clauses might stand up in court, but not without a fight. Copyright 2000 Rajiv Shah . All rights reserved.