Adobe seeks release of Russian programmer

In the wake of worldwide criticism, Adobe Systems agrees to withdraw from a
case charging a 27-year-old Russian programmer with copyright violations.

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/zd/20010724/tc/
adobe_seeks_release_of_russian_programmer_1.html

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. . .

"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," Colleen
Pouliot, senior vice president and general counsel for Adobe, said in a
statement. "Adobe will continue to protect its copyright interests and those
of its customers."

. . .

[Skylarov's attorney] added that the lesson of Sklyarov is likely not lost on
other programmers. "His arrest says you can put computer programmers in jail
for creating software that somewhere down the line could be used to make a
copy of a program or digital book."

[Let this be a lesson to y'all -- it's safer to write software for bomb and
missile controllers that mame and kill than it is to write something that
violates the DCMA!]

For Adobe's part, the episode has not been a total loss, either. Pouliot
stressed that the offending software is no longer for sale in the United
States.
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Ya gotta wonder how long it will be before Adobe's products are no longer
available for sale in European countries for violating their laws...

-David