LEGAL ACTION UNDERWAY AGAINST "VIRUS" COMPUTER PROGRAM

The paragraphs below contain information on a civil legal action
concerning an alleged "virus" or "trojan horse" program which we
claim was sent to and damaged our BBS.  Since the legal action is
now underway, I cannot comment further at this time.  The document
copied below is public, however, and we'd be happy to receive
comments on it from those who are interested.  Give us your views
either on this forum of Compuserve, or on our own bulletin board,
the Santa Fe Message, N-8-1, 2400/1200/300 bps, (505)988-5867.
Open for calls 24 hours a day.

The following was filed with the United States District Court, 
District of New Mexico on August 12, 1988, 10:34 a.m.

This is a copy of a public document.

BEGIN QUOTE

WILLIAM A. CHRISTISON  d/b/a
THE SANTA FE MESSAGE

         Plaintiff,

vs.                                 No. CIV 88 0954 JC

MICHAEL DAGG,

         Defendant.

                          COMPLAINT

          COMES NOW Plaintiff, William A. Christison, by and 
through his undersigned attorney, and alleges that:

                              I

                    JURISDICTION AND VENUE

          1.  This is a suit in equity and at law authorized 
by and instituted against Defendant, Michael Dagg, pursuant to 
18 U.S.C. sec. 2707 and providing for injunctive relief 
against unlawful access to stored electronic communications.

          2.  Jurisdiction is invoked pursuant to 28 U.S.C., 
sec. 1331, 28 U.S.C., sec. 2001, 28 U.S.C., sec. 2202.  This 
action is instituted pursuant to 18 U.S.C., sec. 2707.

          3.  The unlawful unauthorized electronic 
communications have been committed within the State of New 
Mexico.

                              II

                            PARTIES

          4.  Plaintiff, William A. Christison doing business 
as the Santa Fe Message, operates a computer bulletin board in 
Santa Fe County, New Mexico.

          5.  Defendant Michael Dagg was a user of the Santa 
Fe Message, through his telephone, modem and computer, both in 
his own name and under the pseudonym Carter Pruett.

                             III

                      STATEMENT OF CLAIM

          6.  The Santa Fe Message, a computer bulletin board 
system, provides access to stored electronic communications 
for the public.  Authorization is not provided to the public 
for the purpose of altering, damaging, changing or vandalizing 
the bulletin board computer's operating system files, or file 
allocation tables.

          7.  The Santa Fe Message provides both free and 
"shareware" computer programs, to the public, checking them 
wherever possible before releasing them to the public.

          8.  On May 4, 1988 between 2:25 a.m. and 2:31 a.m. 
Defendant, using the name Carter Pruett knowingly and 
intentionally sent by modem to the Santa Fe Message computer 
bulletin board a computer program under the name BBSMON.COM to 
be released to the public.

          9.  Plaintiff checked the program before releasing 
it to the public and discovered that it was a "Trojan Horse"; 
i.e. it appeared to be a normal program but it contained 
hidden commands which caused the program to vandalize 
Plaintiff's system, erasing the operating system and damaging 
the file allocation tables, making the files and programs 
stored in the computer unusable.

          10.  Between May 5, 1988 and May 12, 1988 Defendant 
checked the Plaintiff's computer bulletin board nine times 
using the name Carter Pruett and once using his true name, 
Michael Dagg; several of these times he sent in messages and 
on May 7, 1988, he knowingly and intentionally sent in by 
modem a program of the same name, BBSMON.COM, as the original 
"Trojan Horse" computer program.

          Wherefore, Plaintiff prays that this Court;

          1.  Grant Plaintiff $1000 for each "Trojan Horse" 
violation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. sec. 2707 (b) (1) and (c).

          2.  Enjoin Defendant from sending "Trojan Horses" or 
"Viruses" or other vandalizing programs to Plaintiff or anyone 
else pursuant to 18 U.S.C. sec. 2707 (b) (1).

          3.  Award Plaintiff reasonable attorney's fees and 
other litigation costs, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. sec. 2707 (b) (3).


                                   Respectfully submitted,



                                   ________________________

                                   ANN YALMAN
                                   Attorney for Plaintiff
                                   304 Catron
                                   Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501
                                   (505) 988-8838


END QUOTE