For a long time, I liked MAPS. They were doing good things for free. Then they started charging for access to their data, under the excuse that it costs so much, they just need to start covering their expenses. No big deal, right? They can't bleed money. I understand. Now, MAPS has filed a lawsuit against a former employee. Why? Because he might interfere with their ability to make money by giving away something for free that they charge for! Read about it on slashdot, I don't feel like pasting URLs. But the bottom line is that Nick Nicholas, who was Executive Director of MAPS for a bit a couple of years back, has this to say: "Last year I decided to write a book about the history of MAPS. My intent was to focus on the companies that sued MAPS and abused the legal system in order to prevent MAPS from exercising its legitimate free speech rights. I wanted to portray Paul and Dave Rand as beleaguered but slightly flawed heroes. However, my opinion of MAPS was forever changed this past April when it decided to sue DUL founder, Gordon Fecyk, after Gordon attempted to exercise a December 1998 contract he entered into with Paul Vixie in his capacity as MAPS CEO. ... It seems that MAPS has learned a great deal from the lawsuits brought against it by Harris Interactive and others, and has adopted the same slimy tactics. In particular, the affidavits filed by Margie Arbon and Anne Mitchell are full of factual errors and material misrepresentations. I will add my commentary on these affidavits at a later date." So, you who subscribe to MAPS: When will you be cancelling your subscriptions? It's no longer about stopping spam with them, now it's about money. FWIW, the other blacklists out there are just as good. I particularly like njabl.org. Andy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Andy Dills 301-682-9972 Xecunet, LLC www.xecu.net xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Dialup * Webhosting * E-Commerce * High-Speed Access