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[FYI] (Fwd) EFF seeks donations




------- Forwarded message follows -------
To:             	cryptography@c2.net
Subject:        	EFF seeks donations
From:           	"Perry E. Metzger" <perry@piermont.com>
Date sent:      	26 Jan 2000 19:42:57 -0500


[This is a bit of an unusual forward for the list, but I think it is
relevant -- or at least I'll declare it to be. :) --Perry]


   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_relea
   se.html

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

   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

   EFFector is published by:

   The Electronic Frontier Foundation
   1550 Bryant St., Suite 725
   San Francisco CA 94103-4832 USA
   +1 415 436 9333 (voice)
   +1 415 436 9993 (fax)

   Editor: Stanton McCandlish, Communications Coordinator/Webmaster
   (editor@eff.org)

   Membership & donations: membership@eff.org
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