AT&T/Cingular Says No Deep Linking: Really!?!

AT&T/Cingular or what ever they are calling themselves this week, have lost their collective minds. Apparently they do not want anyone deep linking to their site, you can only link to the front page of AT&T/Cingular.

According to its acceptable use policies, linking to any page on AT&T’s website other than the front page is unacceptable. In addition, linking in a “derogatory manner” is no good either, and it can revoke your right to do so. How, I'm not sure, since AT&T/Cingular is not that granter of that right. Check out the quote below:

"You are granted a limited, nonexclusive right to create a hypertext link to the homepage of the Sites, provided such link does not portray Cingular Wireless or any of its products and services in a false, misleading, derogatory, or otherwise defamatory manner. You may not use a Cingular or Cingular Wireless logo or other proprietary graphic or trademark of Cingular or Cingular Wireless to link to the Sites without the express written permission of Cingular Wireless. This limited right may be revoked at any time."

Uhhh....What?

Hey AT&T/Cingular, it's obvious that I've been doing this Internet web thing a lot longer than you. If I want to link to your site in a derogatory manner, that is my Web-given right. If I wanted to have a link to your site that says AT&T has a stick up its collective ass, there’s nothing you can do about it. This has been held up in court. You can link to any site on this one that you feel like. Try it out, it's fun, believe me!!!

Look, here’s me linking to your actual policy. And you know what? It’s okay.