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Web site owner goes to court to force 'troll' offline Chris Seper, Plain Dealer Reporter A local pest-control Web site is trying to exterminate what it believes is a specimen of one of the Internet's most bothersome creatures: The Message Board Troll. GIE Media is suing an Arkansas man who the company says is constantly leaving obnoxious and offensive messages on its Internet bulletin board and then, after he is banned from the site, sneaking back using fake names. Many public message boards are plagued by users - often referred to as trolls - who spew personal attacks, emit racist invectives or yell an online version of 'fire' in a crowded theater. Many companies ban users, delete posts and even change locations to avoid abusive users. But GIE's suit against Ronald Huckaby in U.S. District Court is one of the more extreme attempts yet to control chatter on Internet forums. GIE is alleging trespassing, breach of contract and violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. It is seeking at least $5,000 from Huckaby. The company also wants the judge to bar him from visiting PCT Online. The suit says Huckaby's exchanges cut traffic to the Web site and as a result hurt advertising revenue and sopped up staff time required to bar him and his comments. Huckaby regularly violated the rules of the forum - it bars abusive, hateful or vulgar language - and Huckaby repeatedly was asked to stay away from the site...
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