[08.31.2001]
For those wishing to contribute money directly to Dmitry's legal defense, a legal defense fund
has been created. Donations by check can be sent to:
The Dmitri Defense Fund
c/o Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP
100 Spear Street, Suite 1500
San Francisco, California 94105
USA
Funds can also be wired to:
First Union National Bank
Philadelphia, PA
ABA # 031201467
Account # 2000104359781
Account Name: Duane, Morris & Heckscher LLP Escrow Account
You must reference "The Dmitri Defense Fund - R0247-2" on all incoming wires.
[08.30.2001]
According to an MIT Technology Review article,
a programmer has found a way to decrypt Microsoft Reader e-books. But will the program ever see the
light of day? Probably not, less the programmer wishes to be the second person to be prosecuted
under the DMCA (a la Dmitry Sklyarov).
Russian programmer Dmitry Sklyarov and his employer Elcomsoft pled not guilty today to conspiracy
and copyright circumvention trafficking charges. Sklyarov and his attorneys appeared at the arraignment
with U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg presiding. The next court appearance has been scheduled
for 9:00 AM on September 4 before Judge Ronald Whyte.
[EFF Press Release]
[08.29.2001]
A turn for the worse: A U.S. grand jury yesterday indicted Dmitry Sklyarov and Russian company
Elcomsoft on five counts of trafficking and conspiracy to traffic
in a copyright circumvention device. Sklyarov now faces up to twenty-five years in prison (up from
five years) and a $2,250,000 fine (up from $500,000), while Elcomsoft faces a $2,500,000 fine. Sklyarov
will be in a California court this Thursday (August 30).
[Read More]
[Russian Programmer Indcited - Washington Post]
[U.S. Dept. of Justice Press Release on Indictment]
Are they watching you? Maybe not now, but we may be seeing 1984 again as there have been an
increase in the use of surveillance and face recognition software by government institutions and corporations.
Such actions have raised the ire of privacy groups. The idea of Big Brother watching your every move
24-hours a day may not be that far off.
[Read More]
Last Thursday (August 23), a California appeals court heard arguments over whether a lower
court should have prevented dozens of Internet publishers from publishing DeCSS pending the outcome of
a California trade secrets trial. Both the Electronic Frontier Foundation
(EFF) and the First Amendment Project (FAP) argued that
the injunction violates free speech rights under the First Amendment and the California Constitution. A
decision from the three judges of the Sixth District California Court of Appeals is expected in about
4-8 weeks. We'll keep you posted.
[08.28.2001]
UPDATE: Looks like Borders Bookstores won't be implementing
their face-recognition system after all. According to spokeswoman Jenny Carlen, Borders has temporarily
suspended plans to implement a FaceIt monitoring system,
pending a review of legal and human rights issues.
On Thursday, August 30, the EFF and Dmitry Sklyarov will be heading into
courtroom 4 of the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California
for an arraignment on charges of trafficking in a copyright circumvention device. The arraignment is scheduled
for 9:30 AM. Nonviolent protests have been scheduled outside the hearing in San Jose, as well as other cities
around the world. Please support Sklyarov as he faces a potential prison term of five years and a $500,000 fine.
Sklyarov has also issued a statement thanking activists
who have taken up his cause.
Federal District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Branch
280 South 1st Street
San Jose, California
[08.27.2001]
Big Brother is at it again! Borders Bookstores are going to implement a face recognition system
to monitor its customers, the same used to catch terrorists. Borders claim it is intended to identify known
shoplifters, but where are they going to get this
database of "known shoplifters?" Does such a list exist?
Worse scenario: With a few modifications, the system can be used to monitor and keep a database on customers and
their shopping habits. From now on, whenever I enter a Borders Bookstore, I'll be wearing an
Usama Bin Laden mask. It'll be
interesting to see what happens then. Concerned Borders customers can reach Borders Customer Care
at 1-800-566-6616.
People are encouraged to join ACORN, Global Exchange, Greenaction, and Greenpeace on September
9 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the California State Capitol Building in Sacramento. The rally is being held
to lobby politicians and demand that the California Power Authority invest $2 Billion in Clean Energy Now!
[08.24.2001]
It has been brought to our attention that the U.S. government is seeking up to $30 Million
in taxpayer money to prevent its citizens from protesting at the IMF/WTO meetings scheduled for September
29-30 in Washington D.C. According to D.C. police, the monies would be spent on weapons and security
and to build a nine-foot high wall around the main downtown corridor to prevent people from protesting.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to converge in D.C. to peacefully protest against the world's
most powerful financial institutions. Organziers have stressed their intention to file a lawsuit against
the district for violating their constitutional right to peacefully assemble in protest. Those in
the L.A. area who are interested in joining the protests can contact the International Action Center-L.A.
at 213-487-2368 for more information on how to participate.
Due to the decrease in music shipments during the first half of 2001 compared to 2000, and
with Napster successfully stifled, it looks like the RIAA are now going to target CD burners and CD-Rs.
According to RIAA president and CEO Hilary Rosen, "Many in the music community are concerned about the
continued use of CD-Rs and we believe this issue deserves further analysis. All of this activity continues
to show the passion of the consumer for music and the need for both legal protection and legitimate alternatives."
What does this mean? Who knows. Maybe they'll try to push a Canadian-style tax on anything that can store data.
It looks like Microsoft are up to their evil ways again. It's been reported that Microsoft
have been sending out faked letters to the Attorney Generals of at least 18 states, urging them to go
easy on Microsoft for its conduct as a monopoly.
Suspicion arose after noticing that the same sentence kept reappearring in letters and that some of
the return addresses were invalid. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff even reported receiving letters
from at least two dead people. Talk about the return of the living dead!
After promising for months that their new album would be ready soon, Garbage
will finally release Beautiful Garbage on Oct. 1.
And finally, our condolences go out to Bono (U2). His father Bob Hewson
lost his battle to cancer earlier this week. Hewson, who had been ill for some time now, died in Dublin.
[08.22.2001]
The RIAA reported yesterday that music shipments were down compared to 2000. Having successfully
stifled Napster, who will they blame now?
[Read More]
Dmitry Sklyarov was expected to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg
on charges of trafficking in a copyright circumvention device (i.e. for writing a software program
which is perfectly legal in Moscow) on Thursday, August 23. But the hearing has been postponed
until next week. The arraignment is still scheduled to take place in courtroom 4, located on the 5th floor of the
Federal District Court for the Northern District of California,
San Jose branch. However, this is subject to change. We'll keep you posted.
Without the Sklyarov case to worry about (for now), the EFF can instead focus
their energies for this Thursday, August 23 when a California state appellate court will hear oral arguments in the
DVD Copy Control Assn. v. Andrew Bunner
case. Bunner along with dozens of Internet publishers had been order to stop publishing the DeCSS
source code, pending the outcome of a trial. Oral arguments will begin at 1:30 PM before
California's Sixth Appellate Court.
333 West Santa Clara Street, Suite 1060
San Jose, CA 95113.
And finally, a Free Dmitry party is being planned for Wednesday, August 29 from 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
near the Moscone Center in San Francisco. This party is aimed at helping to raise funds for Dmitry's
legal defense.
[08.17.2001]
Bjork is getting ready to hit the road again,
but this time she'll be accompanied by a 54-piece orchestra. Rather than play large rock arenas and
deal with terrible acoustics, this time around she'll be playing at some of the greatest and most
beautiful concert halls in America.
Tickets go on sale this weekend, but there'll also be a pre-sale
for those who just can't wait. All pre-sales start on Friday, August 17 at 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT.
It has come to our attention that three of Governor Davis' four appointees to the Board of
California's Power Authority have serious conflicts of interest in relation to energy issues. All three of
the appointees -- Dave Freeman, Sunne McPeak, and Donald Vial -- sit on the board of the California
Foundation on the Environment and Economy. Not only is this foundation funded by utility companies,
but board members include senior executives from gas and utility companies such as Enron, Calpine,
Mirant, Sempra, Reliant, PG&E, and Southern California Edison.
On a brighter side, the outlook on the development of a solar power plant on the 130 acre
Leona Quarry, located in East Oakland, looks extremely good. The site is located next to energy consumers
and could potentially generate between 40 and 60 megawatts of clean, sustainable solar energy (enough
peak energy to power forty to sixty thousand homes!). Unlike dirty fossil fuel and nuclear plants,
the Leona Quarry solar power plant could begin generating power within a month of breaking ground.
In a bit of (slightly) old news, Gene will release their new album Libertine
in October. Produced by Hugh Jones and Stephen Street, the new album will feature 11 new tracks. It will
be their first release on their own Contra Music label.
And finally, less than 3 months after releasing Amnesiac, Radiohead are
set to head back into the studio to work on new material. According to Jonny Greenwood, "Yes,
lots of new songs written; Just working out arrangements." As for a full world tour, there are currently
"no plans after October....," but the possibility is open for next year along with a follow-up album.
[08.15.2001]
Here's another one of 'em Bushisms; Still can't believe this guy's actually our President:
"My administration has been calling upon all the leaders in the... in the Middle East to do everything
they can to stop the violence, to tell the different parties involved that peace will never happen." -- Crawford, Texas - Aug. 13, 2001
-» California's Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that school officials do not need reasonable
suspicion to stop, question, or even search students or their belongings. Just how will this decision
affect students' rights, we don't know. But students' rights should not stop at the school gates.
[08.13.2001]
Alright, listen up folks, Royal Crown Revue have asked us to help get the word out
that they'll be doing another FREE show on Thursday, August 16 at the County Courthouse in Riverside.
Show starts at 7:00 pm sharp so get there early for a good spot. All ages welcome!
Riverside County Courthouse
4050 Main Street
Riverside, CA
909-715-4682
[08.11.2001]
The PhatNetwork have organized a youth march for August 14.
As a part of their "Summer of Unity," the event has been organized around youth issues ranging from
bad schools to bad media representation. The August 14 march "will be a chance for the youth to reunite
against all injustices and have their voices heard once more."
[Invitation | Learn More]
WHEN: August 14 at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Olympic and Figueroa (downtown los angeles)
[08.10.2001]
Dmitry Sklyarov may be out on bail and out of jail, but he's still not free. The conditions
of his release restrict him to Northern California. Therefore, he is unable to return home to see
his wife and two children. As a result, the EFF have launched a
letter writing campaign to set Sklyarov truely free. Tell the DoJ to drop the charges against Dmitry.
Adobe already has.
[Read More]
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG), the American Civil Liberties Union,
and two other activist groups have filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles and the L.A.P.D.
over the excessive force police officers used against peaceful and non-violent demonstrators during
last years Democratic National Convention (DNC).
The suit claims that officers used a variety of violent tactics to "deliberately suppress free
speech, and block protesters' rights to peacefully assemble and petition the government at the DNC
last August."
[Read More]
In other news, President Bush has allowed federal funding for research using stem cells derived
from frozen embryos. During his presidential campaign, Bush promised that he'd reject any federal
funding for embryonic stem cell research, writing "I oppose federal funding for stem cell
research that involved destroying living human embryos." What other promises will he go back on?
[Read More]
In entertainment news, SciFi.com has reported
that the two upcoming Matrix sequels likely won't happen until 2003. Rumors had placed the opening
as soon as Christmas 2002.
[08.07.2001]
It has been brought to our attention that the National Lawyers Guild
(NLG) is currently considering launching an impeachment campaign against the five Supreme Court Justices
who nullified the recount in the 2000 Presidential Campaign, and thus guaranteed George W. Bush the presidency.
The campaign is to be voted on during their
annual Convention on October 10-15 in Tucson, Arizona.
Listen to Between The Lines' Scott Harris'
discussion with Nathan Newman,
vice president of the National Lawyers Guide, on why he is advocating the launch of the campaign to
impeach the Justices. (NOTE: RealPlayer required).
The good folks over at Greenpeace have released a
press release about
how two Hiroshima bombing survivors joined Greenpeace to denounce Bush's Star Wars Missile Defence System.
It's good to know that there are people out there fighting for what they believe in. Please support
them by becoming a member. We are, are you? To join, go to www.greenpeaceusa.org
There is also an unconfirmed report that four Vandenburg Airforce Base protesters (Brian Buckley, Scott Galindez,
Marcus Page, and Elizabeth Wyrsch) have been found guilty of conspiracy and two counts of trespassing
while protesting the July 14 Star Wars missile test
at Vandenburg.
On a less serious note, it's been announced that a final name has been chosen for Star Wars
Episode II. It is Attack of the Clones. Hopefully this isn't in some way referring to Jar Jar. **shiver**
[08.06.2001]
Good news: Jailed Russian programmer Dmitry Sklyarov was granted a bail motion today at his
hearing. He will be released on a $50,000 bond which his employer ElcomSoft will put up. However,
he must remain in Northern California pending his trial. Dmitry will be "released into the custody
of a local man of Russian decent who shares mutual friends with Dmitry." A pre-trial is set to
occur in 20 days where Sklyarov will be arraigned. The U.S. Attorney will continue to hold his passport
and there will be "no electronic monitoring or otherwise invasive limitation on Dmitry." Read the
EFF announcement.
Just a reminder: Royal Crown Revue will be doing a FREE show this Wednesday (Aug. 8)
at Fashion Island in Newport
Beach, CA. Show starts at 6 P.M. so get there early.
[08.04.2001]
The EFF has issued an Action Alert
indicating that there will be a bail hearing for Dmitry Sklyarov
at 11:00 A.M. (PT) on Monday, August 6, at the San Jose Federal Building.
The EFF are urging all to attend the 10 A.M. protest rally
at the San Jose Federal Building and to contact their legislators about this unjust issue. Let them
know that the questionably constitutional DMCA is being abused to threaten and now even arrest and
charge innocent academics and programmers.
Distribute the flyer: [PDF | HTML | Word]
Related Articles:
[08.02.2001]
In another move signaling that those in Washington are more concerned about the interests
of big business, the House earlier today passed an energy bill that would open up the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling and exploration. At the same time, the House also voted to block a
proposal that would have required sport utility vehicles (SUV's) to get an average of 27.5 miles per
gallon, the same as cars, by 2007.
[Read More | Protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]
We've just been informed that The Cranberries will be in the U.S. later this
month to promote their upcoming album "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee." As such, they'll be performing
5 semi-acoustic shows. As these are private media shows, no tickets will be sold to the public (except
for the Boulder show). But fans can win a pair of tickets by e-mailing crancomp@elive.ie
and in no more than 30 words explain why you should win the tickets. Also, mention what show you'd like
to go to as well as the city and state you live in. Good luck!
August 14 - Los Angeles - Roxy Theatre
August 16 - Boulder - Fox Theater
August 18 - Chicago - The Double Door
August 20 - Minneapolis - Fine Line
August 22 - New York- Bowery Ballroom
