NEW YORK — The Virginia Supreme Court ruled against America Online’s efforts to protect the identity of one of its subscribers and sided with an earlier ruling that supported Nam Tai Electronics Inc.’s request to subpoena the identity of an AOL user as part of a complaint that alleged libel, trade libel and violations of California’s unfair business practice statutes.

The electronics company alleged in its complaint that 51 unknown individuals, including an AOL subscriber, posted “false, defamatory and otherwise unlawful messages” about the company’s stock on an Internet message board.

(via Reuters)