Intellectual Property Law

What laws apply to DOS attacks?

By IBLS Editor

Hello - I run a colocation business in California. Recently one of my clients was the victim of a DOS attack launched by a competing company. The attack lasted about three hours, and took the victim and a few other clients offline for the duration. Because the attack was not distributed, it was easy to trace it back to the source, and what's more, the perpetrator essentially bragged about what they were doing, to my client via email, and on an IRC channel run by my client. Numerous logs documented the attack. I had my attorney send a C&D with demands for acknowlegement by fax, email and registered mail, all of which were ignored (the post office could not deliver the registered letter). At this point my attorney is suggesting that I take it to small claims court or just let it go. I realize the law is fuzzy on DOS attacks, and I can't prove enough damages to get the FBI involved, but the brashness of this incident really bothers me, and I'd like to see these guys slapped down hard. Is there any law with teeth that would apply in thise case, or anything else I can do?

Ed.

Full post as published by IBLS Internet Law Blog on March 02, 2009 (boomark / email).