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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Perhaps the most disturbing thing in the Boston Globe column (which I notice Ayyadurai is already featuring prominently on his own website) is the line “One early innovator declined to be interviewed, fearing litigation from Ayyadurai.” So we now live in a world where Internet pioneers are afraid to tell journalists that electronic mail was widely used in the mid-1970s. That is what is known as a “chilling effect” on free speech.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>I have focused my own statements (<a href="http://www.sigcis.org/ayyadurai">www.sigcis.org/ayyadurai</a>) on Ayyadurai’s claims and arguments rather than his ethics and motivations. My expertise is as a historian and technologist, not an ethicist or psychologist. My position is simple:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Nobody can invent a technology that already exists, still less one that is in widespread use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>“Email” is a contraction of “electronic mail” and refers to the same thing. For example, Abbate’s <i>Inventing the Internet</i> (p. 106) notes “The network’s users unexpectedly came up with a new focus for network activity: electronic mail. Email (initially called ‘net notes’ or simply ‘mail’….”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>3)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Electronic mail systems were in widespread use many years before Ayyadurai developed his “EMAIL” system at some point between 1978 and 1982. For example, Abbate states (p.107) of the early-1970s ARPANET that “Email quickly became the network’s most popular and influential service, surpassing all expectations.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>4)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Therefore, Ayyadurai is not “the inventor of email.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>The implication of Ayyadurai’s recent lawsuits is that anyone who acknowledges that 1, 2 and 3 are true, and that 4 is their inescapable corollary, risks a hugely expensive legal ordeal. Here is what his press release of Jan 4 said. “There is no reasonable dispute that Dr. Ayyadurai is the inventor of email. The full press kit contains more than 20 testimonials from leading technology experts and numerous Ph.D.s. The press kit also includes two extensive research papers prepared by well-respected academic university professors and scientists explaining why Dr. Ayyadurai is the inventor of email, and how the few doubters are wrong.” The next sentence announces the lawsuit against Techdirt. (<a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gawker-media-pays-dr-shiva-ayyadurai-inventor-of-email-750000-settlement-300385899.html">http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gawker-media-pays-dr-shiva-ayyadurai-inventor-of-email-750000-settlement-300385899.html</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>I hope that members of this community will not allow themselves to be intimidated, though as David warns it may be prudent not to say anything one would not feel comfortable defending in court. If Ayyadurai’s legal campaign succeeds then what would happen to books like Abbate? Will anyone who uses Abbate’s work in the classroom run the risk of a multimillion dollar lawsuit? Ayyadurai has also shown himself willing to exploit open records laws to obtain my university emails, perhaps in a hunt for discrediting or actionable materials. <a href="http://www.tomandmaria.com/Tom/emailgrab">http://www.tomandmaria.com/Tom/emailgrab</a>. Other such requests have been harshly criticized by scholars as an assault on academic freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>A few weeks ago Christopher Leslie asked whether this case is really so important to us, versus say defending net neutrality from the Trump administration. I would argue that it is, because the challenge that the post-fact world poses to academic freedom (and to so much else) is something that we are all called to fight in our own little corners of the world. Netflix and other tech firms will fight for net neutrality, but who will fight for history? If the SIGCIS community doesn’t stand up for the integrity of the historical record, against such a concerted campaign to undermine it, then who will?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><br>Tom<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_MailEndCompose"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_MailEndCompose'></span><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Members [mailto:members-bounces@lists.sigcis.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Sarah T. Roberts<br><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, February 14, 2017 12:15 PM<br><b>To:</b> David C. Brock <dcb@dcbrock.net><br><b>Cc:</b> members@lists.sigcis.org<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [SIGCIS-Members] In today's Boston Globe, re developer of EMAIL<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>I mean I certainly don't intend to be silenced about either the record or my take on this situation, or engaging with others about it. That's rather the aim of suing, right?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div id=AppleMailSignature><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id=AppleMailSignature><p class=MsoNormal>--Sarah<br>---<br><br>S a r a h T. R o b e r t s, P h. D.<br><br>Assistant Professor<br>University of California, Los Angeles<br>Department of Information Studies<br>Graduate School of Education & Information Studies<br><a href="https://is.gseis.ucla.edu/">https://is.gseis.ucla.edu/</a><br><br>Blogging periodically at<br><a href="http://illusionofvolition.com/">http://illusionofvolition.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>On Feb 14, 2017, at 9:14 AM, David C. Brock <<a href="mailto:dcb@dcbrock.net">dcb@dcbrock.net</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>Dear All:<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I think it might be wise for you to consider that the SIGCIS Members email discussion archives are published publicly.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Dr. Ayyadurai and his lawyers are included in this public.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>David<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Feb 14, 2017, at 12:10 PM, Sarah T. Roberts <<a href="mailto:sarah.roberts@ucla.edu">sarah.roberts@ucla.edu</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>It may be an ideal time to publicize this goofiness, given the area of alternative facts and the public' fatigue with them, and the bullies who rely upon them. <br><br>---<br><br>S a r a h T. R o b e r t s, P h. D.<br><br>Assistant Professor<br>University of California, Los Angeles<br>Department of Information Studies<br>Graduate School of Education & Information Studies<br><a href="https://is.gseis.ucla.edu/">https://is.gseis.ucla.edu/</a><br><br>Blogging periodically at<br><a href="http://illusionofvolition.com/">http://illusionofvolition.com</a><o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><br>On Feb 14, 2017, at 8:48 AM, Dave Walden <<a href="mailto:dave.walden.family@gmail.com">dave.walden.family@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>The reporter is quite a good technology reporter, in my view; and I see the Globe as a pretty high quality newspaper. I suspect that the article was carefully reviewed by the Globe's legal people to cast doubt on Ayyadurai's claims without making it possible for him to sue them for saying his claims are wrong.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>On 2/14/2017 11:42 AM, Pierre MOUNIER-KUHN wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Well, the article – and even more the readers' comments – are far from providing our self-proclaimed hero with the best publicity... <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>The most objectionable in this paper is the term "<em><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>skeptics</span></em>" ("The skeptics say that by the 1970s, e-mail as we know it today was routinely used"). We are not "<em><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>skeptic</span></em>", we know that S.A.'s claims are <em><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>wrong</span></em>.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Yours truly,<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>Pierre MK<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></blockquote><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>This email is relayed from members at <a href="http://sigcis.org/">sigcis.org</a>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at <a href="http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/">http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/</a> and you can change your subscription options at <a href="http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org">http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>This email is relayed from members at <a href="http://sigcis.org">sigcis.org</a>, the email discussion list of SHOT SIGCIS. Opinions expressed here are those of the member posting and are not reviewed, edited, or endorsed by SIGCIS. The list archives are at <a href="http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/">http://lists.sigcis.org/pipermail/members-sigcis.org/</a> and you can change your subscription options at <a href="http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org">http://lists.sigcis.org/listinfo.cgi/members-sigcis.org</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></blockquote></div></body></html>