Speaking of zombies, Richard Tomlinson is back online here. The man will not lay down and die; this re-emergence was expected, but frankly I wondered if he was in custody, given that things had seemed to be heading towards a peaceful settlement and then BOOM!

Tomlinson Blog 101 here; Tomlinson Blog Disappeared 101 here.

I was wrong with my guess on the specific TOS violation: Typepad said the Metropolitan Police (who have no juristiction over a blog written in France and hosted in the US) sent a letter of complaint, referencing 4(3) of the TOS, and that they, Typepad, had no choice but to take it down. So all they require is a letter of complaint; no proof, no warrant, no lucid argument, not even an old school tie with the IT department; just a letter of complaint.

For god’s sake don’t tell the creationists about this!

And yeah, he could not be said to be taking this well:

So the Metropolitan Police asked Typepad to suspend my account, and Typepad suspend my account without any warning or explanation, and without offering me any form of appeal. Sounds like they work to the same sort of morale code as MI6!

I have asked Typepad for a refund of my subscription fee, and for a copy of my files, but they have not yet offered this. Luckily one kind reader of my old site had downloaded a mirror, and so you can access all the pages here: http://richardtomlinson.6x.to/

I suggest that any readers who use Typepad as their blog host consider moving their site elsewhere, as it is clear that Typepad is not a robust or secure service.

I thought it was only in China and Iran that the secret police shut down blogs, but it seems that even in America this happens too…

And the specific TOS referenced in the complaint is:

4 PAYMENT TERMS

(3) CANCELLATION AND TERMINATION

If you cancel the Service before the end of the term, your cancellation will take effect immediately. After cancellation, you will no longer have access to your website and all information contained therein may be deleted by Six Apart. Six Apart accepts no liability for such deleted information or content. If you are a Guest, the Account Holder who invites you may request Six Apart to, and Six Apart may, terminate your Service at any time and for any reason. If your credit card is invalid for any reason, the Service may be cancelled and all the information contained within deleted permanently. Six Apart accepts no liability for information that is deleted due to an invalid credit card.

You agree Six Apart, in its sole discretion, may terminate your password, and/or account, and remove and discard any Content within the Service (including, but not limited to your Blog Site if you are an Account Holder), for any reason, including and without limitation, the lack of use, or if Six Apart believes that you have violated or acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of the TOS. Any contracts, verbal or written or assumed, in conjunction with your deleted Blog Site (as applicable) and all its parts, at Six Apart’s discretion, will be terminated as well. Six Apart may also in its sole discretion and at any time, discontinue providing the Service, or any part thereof, with or without notice. You agree that any termination of your access to the Service under any provision of this TOS may be effected without prior notice, and acknowledge and agree that Six Apart may immediately deactivate or delete your Blog Site, as applicable, and all related information and files. Six Apart reserves the right to bar any further access to such files or the Service. You agree that Six Apart shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your access to the Service. Paid accounts that are terminated will not be refunded.