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[FYI] (Fwd) EFF seeks donations
- To: debate@fitug.de
- Subject: [FYI] (Fwd) EFF seeks donations
- From: "Axel H Horns" <horns@t-online.de>
- Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2000 10:17:50 +0200
- Comment: This message comes from the debate mailing list.
- Organization: PA Axel H Horns
- Reply-to: horns@t-online.de
- Sender: owner-debate@fitug.de
------- 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
General EFF, legal, policy or online resources queries: ask@eff.org
Reproduction of this publication in electronic media is encouraged.
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------- End of forwarded message -------