New York Attorney General Sues Spyware Company 122
DevanJedi writes "Reuters is reporting that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer has sued alleged spyware company Direct Revenue, charging the Internet marketer with secretly installing millions of spyware programs that sent unsolicited advertisements to users' computers. Direct Revenue settled a class action law suit last month in Illinois."
No, you can't have a constitution (Score:3, Interesting)
5th amendment surrenders?
As much as they're probably guilty, the court should not be able to say "prove you didn't do X or we'll hold it against you"
Spitzer eh? (Score:5, Interesting)
The defendants are usually judged guilty by the court of public opinion, long before an actualy jury gets near the case.
I'm not saying his technique is good or bad, but it's worth noting that more often than not, he gets a settlement instead of a drawn out legal battle.
Ok... (Score:4, Interesting)
Please sue Claria!
DirectRevenue developers should do jail time (Score:4, Interesting)
No, the cat does not "got my tongue." (Score:5, Interesting)
Don't let them settle a lawsuit! Make the assholes release software to de-install itself, safely and completely.
Son of a bitch, I had to re-stage my wife's laptop because of Winfixer.
Fix the law. (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Eliot Spitzer: Is he cool, or is he whack? (Score:5, Interesting)
Actually, niether. He's a politician.
I generally like what he has been doing, which mostly amounts to leveling the playing field between big business and the people -- but one can easily see the opportunitism here of a very political animal in the cases he takes on and how his PR machine works it. He was elected by mostly Democrats to be the Attorney General under a Republican Governor with whom he has had a mostly uneven relationship. He did not challenge this Governor (Pataki) until the Governor announced that he is planning on leaving office, though he has gone after many of the Governor's financiers and political cronies.
In not running against this particular governor, he has set his office up as a stepping-stone to the office of Governor for himself. A very shrewd move. Were he to have remained as a candidate for Attorney General (especially with the favorable press he has been receiving in the state of New York) I'd say he's close to 90% altruistic -- a very hard-working prosecutor with an eye for the kind of justice that sells newspapers. By virtue of his run for Governor and the timing of that run, I'd say he's about 50 to 55% altruistic and would probably make a pretty good, if not combative Governor.
I recall another prosecutor who is rumored to have made a good executive: Giuliani. But Rudy Giuliani was best-suited to crisis management. He tended to get bored and pick fights (usually with the helpless) when things got quiet. Unfortunately I think Rudy has sold his soul to the Republican right (which is wrong).
My overall favorable impression of Mr. Spitzer will, likewise, tumble should he sell his soul to a national political machine. These types are best when they're fighting the good fight with no hangers-on and no encumbrances.
Re:He's been suit-happy the past few years (Score:2, Interesting)
The F.B.I. should really be doing everything the Mr. Spitzer is doing, but thank goodness at least he's doing it!!!!
You know, if this country had an F.B.I. director like Mr. Spitzer, as opposed to that useless shyster, Mueller, or better yet, a real attorney general at the federal level......
Rough Rider (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:No, you can't have a constitution (Score:3, Interesting)
If he _does_ get elected Governor, I hope every crooked politician & business executive in his state go bankrupt from the dry-cleaning bills that they have to pay to clean their underwear every time he makes a move.