Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!VAX1.CC.UAKRON.EDU!mcs.kent.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!charlie!edguer From: edguer@charlie.CES.CWRU.Edu (Aydin Edguer) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: National Lotus Database Message-ID: <1990Dec3.210525.15065@usenet.ins.cwru.edu> Date: 3 Dec 90 21:05:25 GMT References: <9011261357.AA28287@litchi.bbn.com> <1990Dec3.173150.7844@cbnewsh.att.com> Sender: news@usenet.ins.cwru.edu Distribution: usa Organization: Computer Engineering and Science, Case Western Reserve University Lines: 31 Nntp-Posting-Host: charlie.ces.cwru.edu In article <1990Dec3.173150.7844@cbnewsh.att.com> mr@cbnewsh.att.com (mark) writes: >In article <9011261357.AA28287@litchi.bbn.com>, Rich Salz writes: >> Lotus Development Corporation has a new product due out in 1991, called >> "Household Marketplace." It's a database on CDROM. >> >> The database does not contain any of the data covered by the Fair Credit >> Practices Act so Lotus is under no legal obligation to let you see what >> they are saying about you. In fact, during interviews they have >> said that there is NO WAY for an individual to review their >> personal data, nor are there any provisions to make corrections >> on what is recorded. > >What do you mean "there is NO way ...", if I just buy the damn >thing, can't I check what it says about me ? What if a hundred >people decide to get together and buy the thing for $10 per person ? You are correct Mark, as typed, the statement is incorrect. I think Rich meant one or two things by that statment. First, there is no way (short of buying the CD-ROM, for just $1000) to check what information is contained on the CD-ROM about you. You cannot even determine if you are in the database (though you [supposedly] can insure you are not in it by sending Lotus mail). Second, there is no way to review the data before release for correctness. This means that incorrect information could be circulating for at least one month (the time between updates). Since CD-ROM's are pretty indestructible, the incorrect information will probably be floating around ALOT longer. But, with any luck, Lotus will make a big mistake about someone, get sued for libel, and go out of business, taking its software copyrights with it. Aydin Edguer