On July 17, 2001, the FBI arrested Dmitry Sklyarov, a Russian computer science student
for an alleged violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). He
delivered a speech in a Las Vegas hotel regarding Adobe eBooks entitled:
"eBook Security: Theory and Practice"
The application addressed in the speech bypasses Adobe eBooks security only if you have
previously purchased the eBook. Furthermore, it allows the purchaser to
backup their eBook, read the eBook on a platform other than Windows and is useful
to the Blind. Adobe had him arrested.
Since when are people arrested for pointing out a flaw?
We believe this law, which enforces a WTO Treaty,
should be reviewed and challenged. Free Speech allows someone to criticize and/or
demonstrate flaws within corporate products.
Programmers speak in Code.
The intimidation has already begun. The Public Libraries are next.
