State court to decide e-mail privacy rules

[MaineDem]

An e-mail dispute between neighbors could end up defining how Maine judges treat Internet privacy. The case will be argued today before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Someone known in court records as "John Doe" is challenging a Superior Court ruling that ordered his Internet service provider to reveal who sent a prank e-mail to a handful of Great Diamond Island residents on Christmas Eve 2003.

The e-mail was the basis of a lawsuit filed by Ronald Fitch, an island resident. Fitch said the message, which appeared to have come from Fitch himself, made him the subject of ridicule and damaged his reputation.

The state Supreme Court will be asked to decide if "Doe" has a legal right to anonymity, or if the real sender should be held responsible for any harm caused to Fitch.

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/050111email.shtml