In September 2006, Plaintiffs Kasadore Ramkissoon and Does 1 and 2 filed an action in the Northern District of California captioned Doe 1, et al. v. AOL LLC, Case No. C 06-5866 (SBA) (JCS). Plaintiffs alleged that AOL had violated various Federal and State laws when it made available for download data reflecting internet searches conducted by certain users during the period March 1, 2006 through May 31, 2006. The parties have now agreed to resolve the matter without any admission of fault, liability, or wrongdoing.

While the terms of the settlement are confidential, AOL has undertaken to implement certain changes to its existing practices. Among other things, AOL has agreed that if an AOL Member contacts AOL and is able to show that his or her search data was posted on the internet in 2006, and the Member can show he or she has been, or can be identified by a third party other than by AOL (and other than by identifying himself or herself to that third party), then AOL will assist the Member in efforts to request that other search engines remove, from any search results, links to the search queries entered by the Member. The relief also includes provisions designed to protect the privacy of Members, and to instruct them on how to avoid having their searches tracked.

For additional information concerning the relief listed above, interested persons may contact Chris Heffelfinger in the law office of Berman DeValerio (415) 433-3200, which represented plaintiffs, or Jeff Novak, at AOL (703) 265-2923.