Those who spent much of yesterday frantically trying not to use the so-called "revolutionary new way for Instant Messenger users to instantaneously share entertaining content" will be happy to know America Online is considering taking legal action against the distributors of the program.
Representatives for BuddyLinks, a sneaky program that turned unwary AOL Instant Messenger service users into instant spammers Wednesday, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
But the website primarily responsible for regurgitating BuddyLinks onto the AIM network now sports a cheery message reading in part: "Please understand, our Flash games are in no way a virus. We simply combine peer-to-peer, social networking, and instant messaging into one spectacular technology."
"Spectacular mess is more like it," said Andy Dorkin, who manages a New York college's network. "I can't believe that this kind of garbage, spying software, is legal."
The problem from a legal standpoint, according to Manhattan criminal attorney Edward Hayes, is that BuddyLinks comes complete with a lengthy terms-of-service agreement that spells out exactly what the program will do when installed on a computer. Users are supposed to read that agreement before they click "yes" to install BuddyLinks.
But AOL spokesman Andrew Weinstein says the company is considering taking legal action against BuddyLinks' distributor.
http://www.wired.com/news/infostructure/0,1377,62275,00.html

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic