<nettime> MPAA Continues Intimidation Campaign; Police Raid Home of Norwegian Linux Coder

["Lessard, George" <GLessard@gov.nu.ca>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Cyber Rights [mailto:cyber-rights@cpsr.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2000 8:29 AM
To: cyber-rights@cpsr.org
Subject: MPAA Continues Intimidation Campaign; Police Raid Home of
Norwegian Linux Coder


   EFFector       Vol. 13, No. 1       Jan. 25, 2000       editor@eff.org

   A Publication of the Electronic Frontier Foundation     ISSN 1062-9424

  IN THE 149th ISSUE OF EFFECTOR (now with over 21,000 subscribers!):

     * MPAA Continues Intimidation Campaign Against Open Source Software
       Community
          + Police Raid Home of Norwegian Linux Coder
          + WHAT YOU CAN DO
          + Links to More Information
     * Administrivia

   For more information on EFF activities & alerts: http://www.eff.org
     _________________________________________________________________


MPAA Continues Intimidation Campaign Against Open Source Software Community

  Police Raid Home of Norwegian Linux Coder

   The home of sixteen-year-old Jon Johansen, who was among the first to
   post the DeCSS program that allows users to view DVDs on computers
   using non-Windows or Macintosh operating systems, was raided yesterday
   in Larvik, Norway and his computer and cellular telephone seized by
   police. 

   The police were acting at the behest of the motion picture industry as
   part of the industry's attempt to suppress discussion and distribution
   of DVD-viewing software developed outside of the industry's licensing
   regime to prevent the free availability of such software. 

   Both Johansen and his father, who operated the website on which the
   teen posted the code, were questioned at length by the police and have
   been threatened with indictment for posting the code, which the motion
   picture industry dubiously claims was created illegally and promotes
   piracy. Legal analysis of Norwegian copyright and computer crime laws
   suggests the charges would not stick; the action appears intended to
   harass and frighten. 

   This action is in addition to three lawsuits filed by the Motion
   Picture Association of America and the DVD Content Control Association
   and their overlapping membership, in California, New York and
   Connecticut against numerous individuals and organizations including
   coders, journalists and an ISP. EFF's legal staff, aided by some of
   the nation's top attorneys in copyright law, are vigorously defending
   those named in the suits, to support the rights of individuals to
   legally develop, post, and discuss software. 

   "The motion picture industry is using its substantial resources to
   intimidate the technical community into surrendering their rights of
   free expression and fair use of information", said Tara Lemmey,
   President of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "These actions are a
   wake-up call for the open-source software community. The process of
   reverse-engineering and public posting and commenting of code that the
   MPAA is attempting to suppress is fundamental to the development of
   open source software as well as being constitutionally-protected
   speech." 

   EFF plans to assist the Johansen family and has already contacted
   several experts in European copyright law to involve them in the case. 

   For more information and background material on the MPAA/DVDCCA
   crusade to censor free speech and innovation under the smokescreen of
   preventing piracy, visit EFF's Campaign for Audiovisual Free
   Expression ( http://www.eff.org/cafe ) or follow some of the links
   below. 



    WHAT YOU CAN DO

   Support EFF by making a special donation. The movie industry is
   clearly trying to spread us thin and make us expend all our resources. 
   They've filed three lawsuits, generated one bogus criminal
   investigation, and will almost certainly do more -- hoping to spend us
   out of the way. Please don't let that happen. EFF is the only
   organization fighting this legal battle against big money and
   corporate arrogance. We need your help! You can make a donation via
   our secure Web site (just fill in the donation section of our
   membership form, and please become a member, too!) You can also send a
   check, or even donate stock. Membership/donation form (Visa, MC,
   AmEx): 
   https://www.eff.org/join

   Contact info for postal or telephoned donations, and stock donations: 
      Electronic Frontier Foundation
      attn: Kathleen Guneratne, Membership Coordinator
      1550 Bryant St., Suite 275
      San Francisco CA 94103-4832 USA
      +1 415 436 9333 x0

   PGP Key for encrypted donations via e-mail (send to
   membership@eff.org): 
   http://www.eff.org/pub/EFF/effkey.pgp

   Were working on other ways for members and supporters to get involved
   -- we'll send out another edition of EFFector and feature it on our
   website as well. 

   Thanks for your help and support. 



    Links to More Information

   EFF's Campaign for Audiovisual Free Expression (CAFE) 
   http://www.eff.org/cafe

   Coverage in Norwegian Press (in English): 
   http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/d121152.htm

   EFF press release regarding related NY, CT cases: 
 
http://www.eff.org/ip/Video/MPAA_DVD_cases/20000120_eff_press_release.html

   CNN coverage of injunction granted in NY case: 
   http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/ptech/01/21/dvd.hacking.reut/index.html

   Wired News coverage of NY case: 
   http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,33816,00.html

   General info on the open source community and DVD: 
   http://www.opendvd.org/

   EFF's archives on the DVD cases: 
   http://www.eff.org/IP/Video

   Full text of injunction order granted in related CA case: 
   http://www.eff.org/ip/Video/MPAA_DVD_cases/20000120_pi_order.html

   San Jose Mercury News coverage of denial of industry request for
   temporary restraining order in CA case: 
   http://weblog.mercurycenter.com/ejournal/1999/12/29

   NY Times coverage of CA case being filed: 
   http://www.nytimes.com/library/tech/yr/mo/cyber/cyberlaw/07law.html

     _________________________________________________________________

                                 Administrivia

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