<nettime> DMCA

[Nick Moffitt <nick@zork.net>]

	http://www.planetebook.com/mainpage.asp?webpageid=165

In case you haven't heard, a Russian programmer was just arrested in
Las Vegas for writing software that could decrypt arbitrary PDF data.

Creators of lock picking devices are not held accountable for the
actions of burglars who use them any more than gun manufacturers are
accused of murdering millions of people each year.  Yet the authors of
intangible works with no physical capacity to do harm are arrested
simply because of the possible infringing uses.

This is due, of course, to the DMCA, which makes it illegal to create
devices that circumvent copy protection on copyrighted works.  Never
before has US Copyright law been so draconian.  It is against the law
to publish simple cryptographic research, now.  

The press needs to be trained to paint the DMCA for what it is.  

-- 
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