Many companies with large followings and a large investor base often have whole Internet sites devoted to discussing developments with that company. The more authoritative sites often reveal product information weeks before a scheduled launch, and that information is sometimes reported by other news organizations. First Amendment rights advocates say privacy of anonymous message-writers should be protected until it is determined they have violated the law. They want revenge and they want to unmask the person who did it. But companies argue they need the names of individuals to serve them with complaints so a judge can determine whether they did break the law, and note employees often are required to sign nondisclosure agreements.
Several cases are pending in state court.
It notifies members by e-mail of such requests and withholds the information if they object. In another pending case, AirTran Airways Inc., of Orlando, Fla., filed a lawsuit in Boston accusing one or more people using the handle JulietAlpha of posting confidential information about the company on the Raging Bull Internet message board. JulietAlpha in May posted information to Raging Bull that purported to provide information on the number of passengers using the airline, formerly called ValuJet. The company said some of the information was incorrect and that the rest was a misappropriation of trade secrets. Copyright 2000 Associated Press .