Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Internet Privacy

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a lower court's decision that disallowed subpoenas seeking Internet subscribers' names and contact information, Verizon Communications vz said Tuesday. The case was initiated by the Recording Industry of America against the Internet provider as a means to uncover who was copying music over the Web. "This decision means copyright holders and their representatives -- or identity thieves and stalkers posing as copyright holders - will not be allowed to obtain personal information about Internet users by simply filing a one-page form with a court clerk," said Sarah Deutsch, Verizon's associate general counsel, in a statement.