none

Nomen Nescio

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Mar 20, 2001, 7:00:13 PM3/20/01

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TORONTO Ont -- Citing government regulations, Canada's largest
Internet Service Provider, Sympatico, has moved to block its users
from accessing Ebay, the popular on-line auction site, prompting an
outcry from its customers and lawsuits from civil liberties groups.

Sympatico's vice-president and government liaison, Jean Monty, insists
that Sympatico is simply obeying an obscure Revenue Canada regulation
concerning Canadian commerce. "The regulations are very clear," he
said in an interview, "we can no longer allow our customers access to
American goods and services." The ISP has blocked access completely
through the use of its so-called "proxy servers."

Brent Tyler, a civil liberties lawyer has announced a
massive class-action lawsuit. "This is just bloody stupid," he said,
"we'll go all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada if we have to."

An official with Revenue Canada, who did not wish to be named, agreed
that the regulation in question probably does oblige an ISP to block
access to commercial auction sites in the USA. "It's obscure and the
language is obtuse, but it is the law," he said.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that as many as three hundred customers
have cancelled their accounts with Sympatico since the blockage began
4 days ago.

//30//

$kr1pt...@salmahayeksknockers.edu

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Mar 21, 2001, 1:15:36 AM3/21/01

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In can.general Nomen Nescio <nob...@dizum.com> wrote:
> TORONTO Ont -- Citing government regulations, Canada's largest
> Internet Service Provider, Sympatico, has moved to block its users
> from accessing Ebay, the popular on-line auction site, prompting an
> outcry from its customers and lawsuits from civil liberties groups.

I say let Sympatico go ahead and do that... and then let's see how long they
remain 'Canada's largest ISP'.

--
............................................................................

"What sort of truth is it that needs protection?"

-Auberon Waugh, The London Daily Telegraph

...........................................................................
www.geocities.com/pentagon/bunker/1022 swan_...@my-dejanews.com

Bunch Of Fun

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Mar 23, 2001, 2:00:52 PM3/23/01

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This is a joke right?

Can any Sympatico users confirm this?

Carter Lee

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Mar 23, 2001, 6:54:57 PM3/23/01

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Bunch Of Fun wrote:
>
> This is a joke right?
>
> Can any Sympatico users confirm this?

I am a Sympatico user (I would rather fight than switch <grin>) and I
can confirm that it is a lie. In the past four days I have received
five separate emails either directly from Sympatico, both head office
and Nova Scotia office, or through their servers, directing my attention
to various bargains on ebay. Sure doesn't sound to me like Sympatico is
trying to block it's users from accessing ebay, just the opposite.

Carter

G. Wayne Hines

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Mar 24, 2001, 6:09:19 AM3/24/01

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In an earlier episode, Carter Lee <cr...@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:

> I am a Sympatico user (I would rather fight than switch <grin>) and I
> can confirm that it is a lie. In the past four days I have received
> five separate emails either directly from Sympatico, both head office
> and Nova Scotia office, or through their servers, directing my attention
> to various bargains on ebay. Sure doesn't sound to me like Sympatico is
> trying to block it's users from accessing ebay, just the opposite.

Hmmm. All I get is spams. Haven't seen anything from Sympatico.

It would be difficult to restrict access anyway. They could try
to remove the eBay addresses from their DNS server, but I don't
know if that would work. All anyone would have to do is find
another DNS server.

gwh

--
# G. Wayne Hines Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada
#
# w.d....@ns.sympatico.ca
#
# Windows: A rich man's poor excuse for an operating system
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