FC: EFF replies to MPAA lawyer Chuck Sims over DeCSS loss

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Fri Nov 30 2001 - 07:28:54 PST

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    Stanton from EFF points us toward a nicely-formatted HTML copy of the 
    opinion that seems to have all the footnotes:
    http://www.eff.org/Cases/MPAA_DVD_cases/20011128_ny_appeal_decision.html
    
    Background:
    "Second Circuit trashes 2600, upholds ban on DeCSS distribution"
    http://www.politechbot.com/p-02854.html
    
    ---
    
    Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 13:51:11 -0800
    To: declanat_private
    From: John Young <jyaat_private>
    Subject: 2600 Decision in HTML
    
    Declan,
    
    We got a text version from the CA2 electronic files
    which is free of the typos of the PDF but lacks
    the most informative footnotes:
    
       http://cryptome.org/mpaa-v-2600-cad.htm
    
    ---
    
    Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 12:01:00 -0800
    To: declanat_private
    From: Shari Steele <ssteeleat_private>
    Subject: Re: FC: Text of appeals court's decision in MPAA vs. 2600 DMCA suit
    
    Hi Declan.
    I feel I have to respond to this quote:
    
    >Says Chuck Sims, an attorney representing the MPAA member companies, as 
    >quoted in my article:
    >"The arguments against this law are preposterous. It's an EFF fund-raising 
    >operation. It's raised lots of money by hysterical attacks against this 
    >law. Four judges have looked at the challenges and said, 'There's no there 
    >there.'"
    
    This characterization of EFF's motives is mean-spirited and just plain 
    wrong.  EFF has dedicated a significant amount of manpower and financial 
    resources to defend--yes, the net is being systematically attacked--the 
    rights of journalists, scientists, and other net users under this 
    abomination of a law.  Yesterday's losses of both the Felton and 2600 cases 
    were heartbreaking for a legal team that is fighting to make sure that new 
    technologies can grow and flourish, that fair use survives into the digital 
    age, and that each of us can use technology we have purchased however we 
    choose.  As a small nonprofit organization, we struggle to bring in enough 
    money to stay in existence, unlike our well-financed foes.  We took on the 
    2600 case because we believe that we have to stand up to the entertainment 
    industry or they will crush any technology that doesn't fit neatly into 
    their revenue stream.  It's ludicrous to suggest that we took on Hollywood 
    because we expected to get rich!
    Shari
    ~~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
    Shari Steele
    Executive Director                                    ssteeleat_private
    Electronic Frontier Foundation                  +1 415 436 9333 x103 (voice)
    454 Shotwell Street                                  +1 415 436 9993 (fax)
    San Francisco, CA  94110                        http://www.eff.org
    
    
    "Preserving our freedom is one of the main reasons that we are now
    engaged in this new war on terrorism. We will lose that war without firing
    a shot if we sacrifice the liberties of the American people."
    
                                   -Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), 10/25/01
                                    opposing the enactment of the USA-PATRIOT Act
    
    
    
    
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