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Court Denies Access to AOL Subscriber Information

The Supreme Court of Virginia has refused to grant the request of an unidentified company seeking information on an AOL subscriber. The court held that company must identify itself before obtaining the information, and that anonymous plaintiffs could only be granted subpoena power where exceptional harm would result from a release of their identity.

Virginia Court's Decision in Online 'John Doe' Case Hailed by Free-Speech Advocates, New York Times, March 16, 2001 (registration required).