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http://www.eff.org/IP/Video/DVDCCA_c...122_eff_pr.php

Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Advisory
DVD Descrambling Code Not a Trade Secret
DVD CCA Surrenders in Bunner DVD Descrambling Case
For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 22, 2004

San Jose, California - In a surprising retreat today, the consortium of
entertainment and technology companies known as DVD CCA is seeking
dismissal of a lawsuit against Andrew Bunner, a republisher of a computer
program created to allow movie lovers to play their DVDs on computers
running the Linux operating system.

DVD CCA effectively gave up a multi-year effort to have the republication of
the program, called DeCSS, declared a violation of trade secret laws.

"DeCSS has been available on hundreds if not thousands of websites for 4
years now," said EFF Legal Director Cindy Cohn. "We're pleased that the DVD
CCA has finally stopped attempting to deny the obvious: DeCSS is not a
secret."

The California Supreme Court last year ruled that one could apply
preliminary restraint on publication of a computer program only in very
narrow circumstances. DVD CCA sued Bunner along with hundreds of people,
including some T-shirt manufacturers.

On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 12:39:03 +1300, steve wrote:

> The California Supreme Court last year ruled that one could apply
> preliminary restraint on publication of a computer program only in very
> narrow circumstances. DVD CCA sued Bunner along with hundreds of people,
> including some T-shirt manufacturers.

People never fail to amaze me. Maybe someone should give them a life.