Blow to US digital piracy laws
The US government's copyright piracy legislation suffered an embarrassing blow when a court acquitted a Russian software company from criminal charges under the law.
A jury in San Jose threw out the charges against ElcomSoft on Tuesday, in the first test of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), designed to update US copyright laws to cover computer software and new digital formats.
The acquittal was greeted with delight by US civil rights advocates, who say the DMCA reduces an individual's "fair use" rights to copyrighted material such as music CDs, movie DVDs and electronic books.
The case attracted international attention last year when the FBI arrested Dmitry Sklyarov, a Russian programmer working for ElcomSoft, as he visited the US to attend a convention.
Criminal charges against Mr Sklyarov under the DMCA were later dropped in return for his testimony at the trial.
The jury rejected the prosecution's argument that a software programme, designed by ElcomSoft to get around security measures on an electronic text reader made by Adobe Systems, constituted piracy.
"The verdict sends a message to prosecutors who believe that tool makers should be thrown in jail just because a copyright owner doesn't like the tools," said Fred von Lohmann, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
A jury in San Jose threw out the charges against ElcomSoft on Tuesday, in the first test of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), designed to update US copyright laws to cover computer software and new digital formats.
The acquittal was greeted with delight by US civil rights advocates, who say the DMCA reduces an individual's "fair use" rights to copyrighted material such as music CDs, movie DVDs and electronic books.
The case attracted international attention last year when the FBI arrested Dmitry Sklyarov, a Russian programmer working for ElcomSoft, as he visited the US to attend a convention.
Criminal charges against Mr Sklyarov under the DMCA were later dropped in return for his testimony at the trial.
The jury rejected the prosecution's argument that a software programme, designed by ElcomSoft to get around security measures on an electronic text reader made by Adobe Systems, constituted piracy.
"The verdict sends a message to prosecutors who believe that tool makers should be thrown in jail just because a copyright owner doesn't like the tools," said Fred von Lohmann, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Use the feedback form below to submit your comments.
Use the form below to email this article to your friends.
- Sony BMG Recalls CDs Because of Security Risks
- Writers Sue Google for Copyright Infringement
- Playboy Hits Aol With Internet Suit
- Mother Settles Piracy Case
- All About Private Label Rights
- Guidelines for Writing Software Copyright
- Dmitry Goes to Washington
- FairUse4M Cracks Open Copy Protected Downloads
- Google Sued By Authors Over Google Print
- Napster, Recording Industry Search for Answers
- Whose Copyright?
- Media Giants Harmonise Over Online Copyright
- Extend Performers' Copyright to 95 Years, Says Eu Commissioner
- Notorious Pirate Website Faces Copyright Case
- Egypt to Copyright the Pyramids and Antiquities
- Pirates Face Crackdown Over Movie Downloads
- Sarkozy Gets Tough on Internet Pirates
- Copyright Myths and Facts
- How Long Does a Copyright Last
- Trademark Versus Copyright – Difference Between Copyright and Trademark
- Copyright Laws on the Internet
- Facts About the Copyright Act of 1976
- Media Copyright Infringement