Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[Paul Jones <pjones AT metalab.unc.edu>]

BUT as the on-line version of the article says:

"But will the Justice Department continue to prosecute the case?  Since
it's a criminal and not a civil matter, Adobe's change of heart may not
even matter.

             "The only thing I can tell you is that this is a criminal
matter brought by the United States against the defendant and Adobe is not
a party to that action," says Matt Jacobs, an assistant U.S. Attorney in
the San Francisco office.

             One Justice Department lawyer familiar with the case said
it's common for the feds to prosecute someone even if a private party is
no longer angry: "As long as there's a crime committed, we'll prosecute.""

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 19:54:50 -0400
From: Declan McCullagh <declan AT well.com>
To: politech AT politechbot.com
Subject: FC: Adobe bows to pressure, recommends release of Russian hacker


http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,45489,00.html

   Release the Russian, Adobe Says
   By Declan McCullagh (declan AT wired.com)
   4:33 p.m. July 23, 2001 PDT

   WASHINGTON -- In a stunning turn of events, Adobe abruptly bowed to
   public outcry and recommended the release of a Russian programmer who
   was arrested for writing code-breaking software.

   Late Monday, Adobe officials said they had changed their minds and no
   longer believed that Dmitry Sklyarov should be prosecuted for alleged
   copyright infringement.

   "We strongly support (federal copyright law) and the enforcement of
   copyright protection of digital content," Colleen Pouliot, general
   counsel for Adobe, said in a statement. "However, the prosecution of
   this individual in this particular case is not conducive to the best
   interests of any of the parties involved or the industry."

   Adobe's announcement came as hundreds of geeks-turned-activists
   protested Sklyarov's arrest in at least 10 cities, with about 100
   marchers descending on the company's San Jose headquarters, and
   representatives of the Electronic Frontier Foundation met with Adobe
   officials to try and broker a deal.

   [...]



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