IP: what happens when the legislators dont understands the technology

[Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 16:20:35 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Ron Rivest <rivest () theory lcs mit edu>
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> Subject: Spreading viruses in Pennsylvania is illegal??
>
>
> > (IDG) -- People who intentionally spread a computer virus face a seven-year
> > prison sentence and a $15,000 fine in Pennsylvania after Governor Tom Ridge
> > signed a new bill into law May 26. The bill also requires that restitution
> > be paid for any damages caused.
>
> What does "spreading a computer virus" mean?
>
> Last month I sent out the "I Love You" virus to my cryptography/security
> reading group, as we were going to study it at our next meeting.  The virus
> was sent out in source code (vbs) format as part of a text file, not as a
> .vbs attachment that might be unwittingly executed.  Of course, the 
> introductory
> text described the virus being forwarded, and warned the recipients not to
> execute it.  The purpose of the dissemination, as I said, was for study 
> purposes
> and to help educate those who will be at the forefront of the infowars of the
> future.
>
> Is this now illegal (assuming that there might have been a recipient in 
> Pennsylvania)?
>
>         Cheers,
>         Ron Rivest