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Post #1
Apr 18 2008, 09:43
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Awan Afuqya
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Posts: 1,614
Joined: 16-June 03
Member No.: 30,836
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http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cf...37&p=918739Quote - A Texas resident has filed a federal lawsuit against Blockbuster for participating in Facebook's Beacon program, which tells members about their friends' e-commerce activity. In the lawsuit, quietly filed last week, Dallas County resident Cathryn Elaine Harris claims that Blockbuster violated the federal Videotape Privacy Protection Act by sharing information about her movie rentals and sales with Facebook without first obtaining her written consent.
Harris is seeking class-action status, and is asking for at least $2,500 for each violation of the statute, a 1988 law passed after a newspaper obtained the video rental records of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork.
"The Video Privacy Protection Act is an important privacy law that safeguards the information of individual who rent movies," said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "If they disclosed information that's protected under the act, obviously there are going to be some real claims here," he added. The Electronic Privacy Information Center isn't involved in Harris's lawsuit.
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Post #2
Apr 18 2008, 09:54
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Neowinian Super Star
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Posts: 22,705
Joined: 14-January 03
From: Leicester, UK
Member No.: 21,654
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I actually agree with this. I hate the way that so many companies flout data privacy laws. In the UK it is rife, and most companies just shrug as if they didn't know!
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Post #3
Apr 18 2008, 11:30
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YARRRRR
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Posts: 753
Joined: 11-April 04
From: Virginia Tech
Member No.: 52,511
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A lawsuit that actually has some credibility? I'M SHOCKED! 
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Post #4
Apr 18 2008, 12:30
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NeowinianČ
Group: +Subscriber
Posts: 165
Joined: 19-February 06
From: Overland Park, KS
Member No.: 156,964
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I doubt the credibilty. Beacon is an opt-in service. In order for activities to show on Beacon, the user has to approve them to show. The only thing I see is whether or not the opt-in will substitute for the written permission clause. If the judge is smart, it should.
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Post #5
Apr 18 2008, 12:36
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collapsing like a flan in a cupboard
Group: +Subscriber
Posts: 1,822
Joined: 26-March 03
From: W London, UK
Member No.: 24,533
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Quote - (shawncm217 @ Apr 18 2008, 13:30)  I doubt the credibilty. Beacon is an opt-in service. In order for activities to show on Beacon, the user has to approve them to show. The only thing I see is whether or not the opt-in will substitute for the written permission clause. If the judge is smart, it should. QFT
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Post #6
Apr 18 2008, 14:31
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Resident Fanatic
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Posts: 741
Joined: 2-April 06
Member No.: 162,025
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Quote - (shawncm217 @ Apr 18 2008, 07:30) I doubt the credibilty. Beacon is an opt-in service. In order for activities to show on Beacon, the user has to approve them to show. The only thing I see is whether or not the opt-in will substitute for the written permission clause. If the judge is smart, it should. QTF x2
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Post #7
Apr 18 2008, 15:55
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Neowinian UNSTOPPABLE
Group: +SubscriberČ
Posts: 7,456
Joined: 19-December 03
From: Madison, WI
Member No.: 43,062
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Quote - (shawncm217 @ Apr 18 2008, 13:30) I doubt the credibilty. Beacon is an opt-in service. In order for activities to show on Beacon, the user has to approve them to show. The only thing I see is whether or not the opt-in will substitute for the written permission clause. If the judge is smart, it should. +1 Thank you. -Spenser
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Post #8
Apr 18 2008, 16:03
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Wave Goodbye
Group: Global Moderator
Posts: 12,584
Joined: 2-August 05
From: Brighton, England
Member No.: 121,608
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Quote - "The Video Privacy Protection Act is an important privacy law that safeguards the information of individual who rent movies," said Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Sounds epic 
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Post #9
Apr 18 2008, 17:32
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Master of Everything
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Posts: 451
Joined: 2-January 07
From: Port Byron, New York USA
Member No.: 192,957
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Quote - (PureLegend @ Apr 18 2008, 12:03) Sounds epic Lol, it does sound epic. Do I hear an epic win or an epic Phailure? (Note I'm referring to the lawsuit.)
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Post #10
Apr 19 2008, 09:56
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Neowinian Wise One
Group: Registered
Posts: 4,421
Joined: 31-May 07
From: Mishawaka, Indiana.
Member No.: 227,023
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Quote - (shawncm217 @ Apr 18 2008, 07:30) I doubt the credibilty. Beacon is an opt-in service. In order for activities to show on Beacon, the user has to approve them to show. The only thing I see is whether or not the opt-in will substitute for the written permission clause. If the judge is smart, it should. It doesn't matter if it's an opt in service, she didn't opt to have her private details shared by Blockbuster, and thats what the lawsuit is about.
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