Time: Thu Jul 31 07:28:26 1997 by primenet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id HAA19099; Thu, 31 Jul 1997 07:19:38 -0700 (MST) by usr02.primenet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with SMTP id HAA26005; Thu, 31 Jul 1997 07:17:43 -0700 (MST) Date: Thu, 31 Jul 1997 07:16:59 -0700 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar] Subject: SLS: Keep Free Speech Online! (fwd) <snip> > > Free speech is the birthright of all Americans. It's the First >Amendment to the Constitution and it says you don't need permission >from the government before offering your opinions. But as you'll see >in the lawsuit we're filing today, if the CFTC has its way, this >essential freedom will sacrificed on the altar of regulation - all in >the name of consumer protection. > > We hope you enjoy the following press release, and for additional >information on the case, check out our special site at >http://free.ij.org/ > > HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL: July 30, 1997 > CONTACT: John Kramer (jkramer@instituteforjustice.org) > (202) 955-1300 > > Institute for Justice > Publishers and Subscribers Take on CFTC > In Free Speech Case > > Washington, D.C. -The latest battle over free speech in print media >and on the Internet was launched today when a group of small >newsletter publishers, software developers, and Internet users took on >the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's campaign to license speech. > > "In America, you do not need permission from the government before >offering your opinions, whether on car buying or commodity trading," >said Scott Bullock, an attorney at the Institute for Justice, which >represents a group of ten publishers of and subscribers to commodity >reports. "This case will decide who controls the flow of financial >investment information: consumers and publishers - or the federal >government." > > The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is the federal agency >charged with regulating the commodity markets in the United States. >Not content to oversee firms managing investor accounts and to root >out fraud, the CFTC began in 1995 to demand registration of anyone who >for compensation publishes information, analysis or advice about >commodity trading. Selling a book or a piece of software, or charging >a newsletter subscription fee forces the publisher to register. > > Registration is akin to licensing-publishers must be fingerprinted, >have a background check conducted on them, pay fees, be subject to >are the most accurate advisors, serving as an important source of >information for readers of commodity publications. "The CFTC's >campaign suppresses speech, hurts investors, and does nothing to >protect the public," added Rines. > > The publishers challenging the CFTC in this action are Bruce Babcock, >a long-time commodity publisher; Stephen Briese; Robert Miner, >publisher of Dynamic Trader Analysis Report; Frank Taucher; and Bo >Thunman, manager of Club 3000 a forum on commodity trading. Five >subscribers to these publications have also joined in the suit to >protect their right to receive useful information without government >interference. > > The Institute's First Amendment lawsuit seeks to end >government-compelled registration of those who either through >traditional publications, software, or over the Internet offer >impersonal analysis and advice about commodities. The suit was filed >in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. > > The Institute for Justice advances a rule of law under which >individuals control their destinies as free and responsible members of >society. Through strategic litigation, training, and outreach, the >Institute secures greater protection for individual liberty, >challenges the scope and ideology of the Regulatory Welfare State, and >illustrates and extends the benefits of freedom to those whose full >enjoyment of liberty is denied by government. The Institute was >founded in September 1991 by William Mellor and Clint Bolick. > > # # # > > [NOTE: To arrange interviews on this subject, journalists may call >John Kramer, the Institute for Justice's director of communications, >at (202) 955-1300.] >_____________________________________________________________________ >Sent by RocketMail. Get your free e-mail at http://www.rocketmail.com >------- >To subscribe to c-news, send the message SUBSCRIBE C-NEWS, or the message >UNSUBSCRIBE C-NEWS to unsubscribe, to majordomo@world.std.com. Contact >owner-c-news@world.std.com if you have questions. > > > ======================================================================== Paul Andrew Mitchell : Counselor at Law, federal witness B.A., Political Science, UCLA; M.S., Public Administration, U.C. Irvine tel: (520) 320-1514: machine; fax: (520) 320-1256: 24-hour/day-night email: [address in tool bar] : using Eudora Pro 3.0.3 on 586 CPU website: http://www.supremelaw.com : visit the Supreme Law Library now ship to: c/o 2509 N. Campbell, #1776 : this is free speech, at its best Tucson, Arizona state : state zone, not the federal zone Postal Zone 85719/tdc : USPS delays first class w/o this As agents of the Most High, we came here to establish justice. We shall not leave, until our mission is accomplished and justice reigns eternal. ======================================================================== [This text formatted on-screen in Courier 11, non-proportional spacing.]
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