Is Blocking Ads Illegal?

It may be nothing more than idle speculation at this point, but some observers are suggesting that a legal battle may be brewing over ad-blocking software for internet browsers (CNet News and NY Times). The most popular of these, Ad Block for Firefox, allows users to subscribe to a list of items that won’t be downloaded when visiting a website.

I use Ad Block and love it. While I have nothing against text ads, or even static banners, I’ve been driven to distraction one too many times by ads flashing, blinking, beeping or speaking when I open a site.

We’ve discussed website’s terms of use here in the past, which I guess could prohibit the blocking of ads. I’m not sure they are being used in this way, and, of course, their enforceability is up in the air.