Op een weblog van SpywareWarrior heb ik de onderstaande
tekst gevonden. Nogal wat computergebruikers werden na
installatie van Movieland(punt)com lastig gevallen door
agressieve popups en konden ook na een trial-periode niet
van Movieland afkomen. Amerikaanse juristen hebben intussen
niet stilgezeten en hebben Movieland aangeklaagd voor het
verspreiden van spyware. Wanneer de organisatie schuldig
wordt bevonden, dan kan dit leiden tot een behoorlijke
financiële schadevergoeding die betaald moet worden aan de
slachtoffers van Movieland. Hieronder volgt de Engelse
tekst, met daaronder een aantal links die verwijzen naar
artikelen op het forum van security.nl.
==============================================


Movieland.com sued by Washington State AG for spyware

From today’s press release:

Rob McKenna
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON
1125 Washington Street SE · PO Box 40100 · Olympia WA
98504-0100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 14, 2006

Attorney General McKenna Sues Movieland.com and
Associates for Spyware

SEATTLE – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna
today announced the filing of Washington’s second lawsuit
under the state’s computer spyware act. The state’s suit
accuses four California-based corporations of installing
software that takes control of a consumer’s computer by
launching aggressive and persistent pop-ups that demand
payment for a movie download service.

“The defendants in our suit promote a movie download
service through Web sites including movieland.com that offer
consumers a free three-day trial,” McKenna said. “After the
trial period, consumers are inundated with pop-ups that
appear at least hourly and subject the consumer to a
40-second payment demand that cannot be closed. These
messages are generated by software installed on their
computers that cannot be easily removed.

“To stop these aggressive pop-ups, many frustrated
consumers ultimately give in to the defendants’ unfair
tactics and pay anywhere from $19.95 to nearly $100 for the
service,” McKenna said. “Thousands of consumers nationwide
have complained to my office, the Federal Trade Commission,
the Better Business Bureau and others about the defendants’
unfair practices.”

Washington’s lawsuit charges Digital Enterprises, of
West Hills, doing business as Movieland.com; Alchemy
Communications, of Los Angeles; AccessMedia Networks, of Los
Angeles; and Innovative Networks, of Woodland Hills, with
violating the state’s Computer Spyware and Consumer
Protection acts. Two company officials are also charged in
the suit: Digital Enterprises’ Easton A. Herd, and Alchemy’s
Andrew M. Garroni. Both men live in Los Angeles.

If found liable, each defendant could be fined $100,000
per violation of the Computer Spyware Act and $2,000 per
violation under the Consumer Protection Act. They may also
be required to pay restitution to affected consumers.

Links:
http://www.security.nl/forum/i/85582/movieland
http://www.security.nl/forum/i/85922/movieland
http://www.security.nl/forum/i/84261/movieland
http://www.security.nl/forum/i/83376/movieland