[plug] Competition announcement (in USA)

[Alex Nordstrom]

On Tuesday, 2 Nov 2004 11:36, Jacqueline McNally wrote:
> Clare Johnstone wrote:
> > Prize is a PC.
> > The contest is open to everyone, regardless of Nationality, or Age.
> >
> > Click on the link below to join the LinuxTimes.Net family
> > http://www.linuxtimes.net/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=new_user
>
> Do you know who is "LinuxTimes"?

Asking precisely that at a command prompt:

$ whois linuxtimes.net

tells you that they are operated by

[...]
Registrant:
Linare Corporation (COTSAMPFPD)
   2018, 156th Ave, NE
   Bellevue, WA 98007
   US
[...]

who also supply the prize.

> It appears that they have only just started.
>
> Competitions are a great way to generate interest, but it would be
> nice to know who people will be providing their information to from a
> privacy point of view.

From the registration page:

    We don't sell/give to others your personal info.

You could embed that in a bit more 3 pt Flyspeck legalese, but inferring 
the details of implied agreement regarding non-disclosure in court is 
trivial compared to substantiating any hypothetical claims of 
disclosure--not to mention the cost of taking legal action.

In other words, it's so easy to get away with that a well-known name is 
no guarantee that information won't "leak". I don't see a reason to be 
so sceptical about these people in particular.

You aren't required to leave any personal information other than an 
e-mail address anyway. If you are worried, leave a throwaway address.

Personally, I'm more concerned with the focus on quantity over quality. 
Also, they leave themselves wide open for trouble with such nebulous 
rules.

-- 
Alex Nordstrom
http://lx.n3.net/
Please do not CC me in followups; I am subscribed to plug.