BBV EFF files suit against Diebold

[alfredo]

They feel Diebold is abusing the copyright laws.

http://www.eff.org/Legal/ISP_liability/OPG_v_Diebold/20031103_eff_pr.php

For Immediate Release: Monday, November 3, 2003


Electronic Frontier Foundation and Stanford Law Clinic Sue Electronic Voting Company


Student Publishers and ISP Aim to Stop Diebold's Abusive Copyright Claims


Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release


San Francisco - A nonprofit Internet Service Provider (ISP) and two Swarthmore College students are seeking a court order on Election Day tomorrow to stop electronic voting machine manufacturer Diebold Systems, Inc., from issuing specious legal threats. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Center for Internet and Society Cyberlaw Clinic at Stanford Law School are providing legal representation in this important case to prevent abusive copyright claims from silencing public debate about voting, the very foundation of our democratic process.


Diebold has delivered dozens of cease-and-desist notices to website publishers and ISPs demanding that they take down corporate documents revealing flaws in the company's electronic voting systems as well as difficulties with certifying the systems for actual elections.

[La_Serpiente]

1. Awesome

here is the founder for the Standford organization. His name is Larence Lessig and this is his website and blog.

http://www.lessig.org/blog/

[onebigbadwulf]

2. what the

lets all send him fan mail.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. Tell Diebold

to stick their cease-and-desist notices where the sun don't shine. C&D are not court orders. Anyone can send one to anyone else regardless of whether or not they have any merit. Can't wait to see this one go to court, if the judge is anything resembling fair and decent, Diebold should be sent home with their tail between their legs.

[gristy]

4. This was reported on NPR (during the news, I think) last night

Way to go NPR!

[dusty64]

5. Glad to hear it.

Much more important than what zell has to say.

[alfredo]

6. I think enough doubt has been cast

on Diebold and all computer voting machine, that real change can happen. We cannot sit back and relax, a lot of work needs to be done.

[ConsAreLiars]

7. An encounter at the polling place today

A guy was unsure what to do after filling out the ballot; his companion pointed to the "accuvote" (?) reader, and referred to it as the "shredder." I asked the pollworkers rhetorically if they ever check to see if the machines are working properly. Shrugs. More shredder comments. Then I said something about with machines doing the voting we just come in for kicks. A pollworker joked back about this just being an opportunity folk neighbors to socialize a bit.

Nothing serious, just an idle exchange of chit-chat, but it indicated to me that the questioning of these "voting" machines is more widespread than I might have guessed. GBnC reports a very high degree of receptivity to this issue as he campaigns, and to me these comments indicate a sense of uncertainty about these black box systems.