[Sorry for the late notice. We've been busy. We're having a hearing
in the New York DVD case (movie studios against 2600 for posting
DeCSS, defended by EFF). All interested c'punks are invited. Dress
like a broker, if you think it'll help. Judges wear costumes; we can
too. Let the judge know by your quiet attentiveness that some
interesting and responsible people care how carefully he decides this
case. -- John]
NY Court to Hear Arguments re: Sanctioning Movie Studios in DVD Case
WHO: EFF DVD Legal Defense Team and Defendant 2600 vs. Movie Studios.
WHAT: Hearing to compel MPAA's Valenti and Disney's Eisner to testify.
WHERE: Courtroom 12d, Federal District Court, Southern District
of New York, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY; see
http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/travlnyc.htm
WHEN: Thursday, May 11 at 9:30 a.m.
WHY: First Am says people can't just suppress ideas they don't like.
On Thursday morning, a federal court will hear arguments over media
defendant 2600's request to sanction the movie studios for refusing to
comply with the court's discovery schedule. The Electronic Frontier
Foundation (EFF) is sponsoring the defense of 2600, the popular
computer-security online & printed newsmagazine. 2600 posted free
software, DeCSS, which was part of learning how to play DVDs on Linux
computers. Movie companies dislike this software because it avoids
their attempts to deny viewers rights that copyright law provides.
Martin Garbus, EFF and 2600's defense lawyer, asked the court to
compel MPAA President Jack Valenti and Disney CEO Michael Eisner to
submit to testimony under oath about piracy related to DeCSS. We
believe they have key evidence that there is no commercial or visible
piracy of DVD movies occurring because of DeCSS and related programs.
Also, because of the irreparable harm done to 2600 and others chilled
by the court's preliminary injunction, Mr. Garbus will also ask the
court to increase the financial bond the movie companies are required
to pay pending the outcome of the case.
EFF encourages attendance by its members in the New York area, public
citizens, and journalists concerned about the movie studios' overly
broad interpretation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
Contacts:
Katina Bishop, Communications Manager
Electronic Frontier Foundation
(415) 436-9333 x101
Robin Gross, Staff Counsel
Electronic Frontier Foundation
(415) 863-5459
For more information on this case, and three other DVD-related cases
being sponsored by EFF, see http://www.eff.org/IP/Video
The Electronic Frontier Foundation ( http://www.eff.org ) is the
leading nonprofit organization linking technical architectures with
legal frameworks to support the rights of individuals in an open
society. Founded in 1990, EFF actively encourages and challenges
individuals, industry and government to support free expression,
privacy, openness, and responsibility in our information society. EFF
is a member-supported organization, and maintains a large archive of
computer, network, and civil liberties history.
