Online Anonymous Speech and the First Amendment

Scope

 * Use this page to list sources related to anonymous speech online and efforts to unmask anonymous speakers, particularly through "Doe" lawsuits or subpoenas.

News / Editorials

 * Megan O'toole, Aurora critics can remain anonymous, judge rules, National Post (Jul. 26, 2011).
 * David Kravets, Court OKs Unmasking Identities of Copyright Scofflaws, Threat Level, Wired (Apr. 30, 2010).
 * Don Butler, Court to decide web posters' ability to remain anonymous, Ottawa Citizen (Apr. 12, 2010).
 * Richard Perez-Pena, News Sites Rethink Anonymous Online Comments, The New York Times (Apr. 11, 2010).
 * Leila Atassi, Cuyahoga County Judge Shirley Strickland Saffold files $50 million lawsuit against The Plain Dealer and others, The Plain Dealer (Apr. 8, 2010).
 * Evan Brown, Anonymous Sender of Beer Pong E-mail Gets to Remain Unknown, Internet Cases (Mar. 19, 2010).
 * Noel Hamiel, Opinion: Internet poses challenges, but defamation still needs attention, The Daily Republic (Feb. 27, 2010).
 * Robin Wauters, Yelp Hit With Class Action Lawsuit For Running An “Extortion Scheme”, TechCrunch (Feb. 24, 2010).
 * David Johnson, Zynga v. Does d/b/a Easy Chips: California Federal Judge Applies Light Standard for Uncovering Identity of Anonymous Proprietor of On-line Business, Digital Media Lawyer Blog (Feb. 22, 2010).
 * Chet Brokaw, SD nixes move to identify anonymous blog defamers, Associated Press (Feb. 22, 2010).
 * David Kravets, Rulings Leave Online Student Speech Rights Unresolved, Wired Magazine (Feb. 4, 2010).
 * Associated Press, Neb. man agrees to plea in Scientology Web attack, Washington Post (Jan. 26, 2010).

Legal Briefs / Opinions / Statutes

 * Yelp, Inc. v. Hadeed Carpet Cleaning, Inc., No. 0116134 (Va. Ct. App. 2014).
 * Online Anonymous Speakers v. v. United States District Court for the District of Nevada, No. 09-71265 (9th Cir. July 12, 2010).
 * SaleHoo Groups, Ltd. v. ABC Co., 2010 WL 2773801 (W.D. Wash. Jul. 12, 2010) (plaintiff failed to meet three part test to discover identity of anonymous "sucks" domain name owner/website operator by failing to make prima facie case of trademark infringement or defamation).
 * USA Technologies, Inc. v. John Doe, No. 09-80275, 2010 WL 1980242 (N.D. Cal. May 17, 2010) (granting motion to quash).
 * Arista Records, LLC v. Doe 3, 604 F.3d 110 (2d Cir. 2010) (affirming denial of motion to quash).
 * McVicker v. King, No. 09-436 (W.D. Pa. Mar. 3, 2010) (plaintiffs' asserted need to possibly impeach known witnesses did not outweigh the First Amendment rights of the anonymous commenters).
 * Sedersten v. Taylor, 2009 U.S. Dist LEXIS 114525 No. 09-3031 (W.D. Mo. Dec. 9. 2009) (Online commenter did not waive right to anonymity by agreeing to news website's privacy policy).
 * Rocky Mtn. Bank v. Google, Inc., No. 09-04385 (N.D. Cal. Sep. 23, 2009) (ordering Google to deactivate the account of and to disclose the identity of a gmail account holder that had been inadvertently emailed bank customer information).
 * In re Cohen, No. 100012/09 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Aug. 17, 2009).
 * Solers, Inc. v. Doe, No. 07-159 (D.C. Ct. App. Aug. 13, 2009) (plaintiff seeking to identify an anonymous defendant must first submit sufficient evidence to establish a genuine issue of material fact for all claim elements within its control).
 * The Alton Telegraph v. The People of the State of Illinois, (Ill. Cir. Ct. May 15, 2009).
 * Warman v. Wilkins-Fournier, 2009 CanLII 14054 (ON S.C.).
 * Independent Newspapers, Inc. v. Brodie (Md. Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2009).
 * Enterline v. Pocono Med. Ctr., No. 08-01934, 2008 WL 5192386, 37 Media L. Rep. 1057 (M.D. Penn. Dec. 11, 2008) (plaintiffs' asserted need to discover the identity of witnesses did not outweigh the First Amendment rights of the anonymous commenters).
 * Doty v. Molnar, No. DV 07-022 (Dist. Ct. Mont. Sep. 3, 2008).
 * Greenbaum v. Google, Inc., 18 Misc 3d 185 (Sup. Ct. NY 2007).
 * McMann v. Doe, (Sup. Ct. Ariz. 2007).
 * In re Does 1-10, 24all of2 S.W.3d 805 (Tex. Ct. App. 2007).
 * Public Relations Society of America v. Road Runner High Speed Online, 799 N.Y.S. 2d 847 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2005).
 * Columbia Ins. Co. v. Seescandy.com, 185 F.R.D. 573 (N.D. Cal. 1999).

Scholarship

 * Jessica L. Chilson, Unmasking John Doe: Setting a Standard for Discovery in Anonymous Internet Defamation Cases, 95 Va. L. Rev. 389 (2009).