In appeal, data mining companies claim data mining is protected speech

[cali]

so ridiculous.


The Associated Press
Tuesday, June 23, 2009; 7:19 PM

NEW YORK -- So-called data-mining companies that collect information about the drugs doctors prescribe asked an appeals court Tuesday to stop Vermont from enacting a law next week restricting their work.

Attorney Thomas Julin told a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it would violate the First Amendment rights of the companies if the law is enacted on July 1.

He asked the appeals court to block implementation of the law until it decides whether to uphold a lower court ruling that concluded the law did not violate the Constitution. Both sides were expected to submit written arguments in the wider appeal case within two months.

<snip>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/23/AR2009062303254.html
The court did not immediately rule, but Judge Barrington Parker called it a fascinating case.

[H2O Man]

1. And war is peace. (n/t)

[dorkulon]

2. WTF? That's just not...that doesn't make any sense.

Then again "money is speech" struck me the same way too.

[Berry Cool]

3. So some corporation's right to "protected speech" can trump an individual's "right to privacy"

...maybe.

Please, Court, slap this one down like the idiotic statement it is.

[Canuckistanian]

4. I hope everyone undertands the importance of this

If the Court accepts this argument, corporations will have unprecedented power to shut down protests and limit damages.

And all without paying a dime for a lobbyist.

[cali]

5. yep. this needs to be firmly slapped down.