My Run-In With The Digital Millennium Copyright Act: a university student, Colin McMillen, ordered a serial cable with a special end made for plugging into a Dreamcast console from lik-sang.com. He says his intention is to write real-time software for the console as part of his research. Instead the shipment was intercepted by Customs as being in violation of the DMCA.
See also: DMCA Protection at U.S. Border
Note: the first link above is to a university student's account which has been /.ed and mentioned on Wired. It may take a few tries to get in. [via zem]
Of the over 30,000 public comments received by the Department of Justice on the final judgement in the Microsoft anti-trust case, 47 have been released as being "major". [via Red Rock Eater]
Cybercrime Bill Ups the Ante: on the increased penalties for computer crime proposed in the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2001, in particular up to life for those where the alleged evildoer knowing trying to cause death or serious injury. I haven't figured out the rest of the impact on penalties, but I don't think that specific one is a bad thing. Opening statements from committee members and witnesses at a House Subcommmittee on Crime hearing earlier this week are available from their site and include:
- John Malcolm, Department of Justice
- Susan Koeppen, Microsoft corporate attorney
- Clint Smith, United States Internet Service Providers Association
- Alan Davidson, Center for Democracy and Technology
