Interesting People mailing list archives

IP: Academic freedom [when do we get hit in the USA , the mood is right djf]


From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2002 10:31:28 -0500

Ross is a crypto type and very very good djf


From: Ross Anderson [mailto:Ross.Anderson () cl cam ac uk]
Sent: 07 February 2002 18:04
To: ukcrypto () chiark greenend org uk
Subject: Academic freedom



We've just realised over the last few days that the Export Control Bill,
currently before the Lords, gives ministers the power of pre-publication
review over scientific papers.

In the past, scientific discoveries could be classified if the scientist
applied for a patent, but not if the results were simply published; this
is seen by Whitehall not as a fundamental freedom, but as a loophole
that needs to be quietly closed.

I have thrown together a web page with the background and the most
relevant links:

        http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/rja14/exportbill.html

If you're an academic, or a foreign national living in the UK and
working with technology, or a British citizen who derives income from
technology exports, this bill could be bad news. In fact, I hope
everyone who cares about freedom will consider it to be unacceptable.

If you're a journalist, I hope it's a story you can run with,

Ross Anderson


For archives see:
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/


Current thread: