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Re: Target and NFB agree to Settlment

for

From: Jared Smith
Date: Aug 27, 2008 9:20AM

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 8:37 AM, Michael R. Burks
< <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:
> All,
>
> This is great news!!!!
>
> http://www.nfbtargetlawsuit.com/final_settlement.htm

Is it really? It's good news for the NFB, its claimants, and Jim
Thatcher (in the sum of $6 million+), but I think the majority of the
accessibility community was hoping for some long-awaited case law that
might better define the relationship of the Internet and the Americans
with Disabilities Act. Instead of all corporations receiving
clarification that they are ALL legally obligated to make their web
sites accessible, they can now take comfort in the fact that if they
aren't big/rich enough for NFB and the gang to come after them, that
they can maintain the status quo of, at best, marginal accessibility.
Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the outcome and I do think it
will motivate large corporate retailers to become accessible, but
without clarification of the true legal obligation, I fear the
influence of this settlement will not be very significant.

Jared Smith
WebAIM