Albert Gidari of Stanford University's Center for Internet and Society said the judge probably didn't want to hold up a trial set for Nov 30 in London.
"No one should read this decision as open season on compelled disclosure of user content in discovery proceedings," Mr Gidari said in an email. "To the contrary, the case stands for the unremarkable proposition that if a party can prove ownership of an account, and show discovery from the user can't be had through other means, the party can obtain provider assistance through court proceedings."