BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : FEBRUARY 28, 2000 ISSUE
LEGAL AFFAIRS How Companies Track Anonymous Postings STEP ONE A company that is attacked on an Internet message board files a suit against a group of unknown ''John Does,'' charging them with, say, defamation, trade-secret theft, or violation of an employment contract. STEP TWO Because it doesn't know the identity of the John Does, the company asks a judge for a subpoena forcing the host of the message board to release the Internet addresses that are attached to their postings. STEP THREE The subpoena is presented to the message board's host, often a major portal, such as Yahoo!, AOL, or MSN. They almost always comply, though a few give the John Does enough notice to fight it if they wish. STEP FOUR Unless John Doe gets a lawyer, the company gets Doe's Internet address within weeks. From there, it's usually just a matter of time until they are able to track down John Doe's real identity. DATA: BUSINESS WEEK _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _					RELATED ITEMS Free Speech on the Net? Not Quite TABLE: How Companies Track Anonymous Postings INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

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