[Ecommerce] Verizon Fights To Protect Consumer Privacy Rights

[James Love]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Verizon Fights To Protect Consumer Privacy Rights
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 16:04:28 -0500
From: c.l.hoewing@verizon.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2003

Media contact:
Susan Cavender Butta
202-515-2515
susan.butta@verizon.com

Verizon Fights To Protect Consumer Privacy Rights

Company Seeks Stay of Judge's Order in Recording Industry Case

WASHINGTON ? Verizon today is filing a motion in federal court to stay a
judge's ruling that ordered the company to reveal the name of one of its
Internet subscribers to the Recording Industry Association of America. 
In addition, as Verizon announced last week, the company will file 
notice of its appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals today.

Verizon is seeking the stay in the U.S. District Court for the District 
of Columbia to preserve the privacy of its subscriber and to allow the 
U.S. Court of Appeals the opportunity to review the important statutory 
and constitutional issues raised in this case.

"Verizon will use every legal means to protect its subscribers' 
privacy," said John Thorne, senior vice president and deputy general 
counsel for Verizon.  "The recording industry brought this case as a 
'test case' of its aggressive legal theories.  We are seeking a stay so 
that the Court of Appeals can issue a final ruling on the critical legal 
issues before we are required to turn over our subscriber's identity.

"If this ruling stands, consumers will be caught in a digital dragnet ? 
not only from record companies alleging infringement of their copyright
monopolies ? but from anyone who can fill out a simple form," Thorne said.

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers 
of communications services.  Verizon companies are the largest providers 
of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 135.8
million access line equivalents and 32.5 million Verizon Wireless
customers.  Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the 
world. With more than $67 billion in annual revenues and 229,500 
employees, Verizon's global presence extends to 33 countries in the 
Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific.  For more information on 
Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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-- 
James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technlogy
http://www.cptech.org, mailto:james.love@cptech.org
tel. +1.202.387.8030, mobile +1.202.361.3040