FC: EFF replies to MPAA lawyer Chuck Sims over DeCSS loss

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

Stanton from EFF points us toward a nicely-formatted HTML copy of the 
opinion that seems to have all the footnotes:
http://www.eff.org/Cases/MPAA_DVD_cases/20011128_ny_appeal_decision.html

Background:
"Second Circuit trashes 2600, upholds ban on DeCSS distribution"
http://www.politechbot.com/p-02854.html

---

Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 13:51:11 -0800
To: declan () well com
From: John Young <jya () pipeline com>
Subject: 2600 Decision in HTML

Declan,

We got a text version from the CA2 electronic files
which is free of the typos of the PDF but lacks
the most informative footnotes:

  http://cryptome.org/mpaa-v-2600-cad.htm

---

Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 12:01:00 -0800
To: declan () well com
From: Shari Steele <ssteele () eff org>
Subject: Re: FC: Text of appeals court's decision in MPAA vs. 2600 DMCA suit

Hi Declan.
I feel I have to respond to this quote:

> Says Chuck Sims, an attorney representing the MPAA member companies, as 
> quoted in my article:
> "The arguments against this law are preposterous. It's an EFF fund-raising 
> operation. It's raised lots of money by hysterical attacks against this 
> law. Four judges have looked at the challenges and said, 'There's no there 
> there.'"

This characterization of EFF's motives is mean-spirited and just plain 
wrong.  EFF has dedicated a significant amount of manpower and financial 
resources to defend--yes, the net is being systematically attacked--the 
rights of journalists, scientists, and other net users under this 
abomination of a law.  Yesterday's losses of both the Felton and 2600 cases 
were heartbreaking for a legal team that is fighting to make sure that new 
technologies can grow and flourish, that fair use survives into the digital 
age, and that each of us can use technology we have purchased however we 
choose.  As a small nonprofit organization, we struggle to bring in enough 
money to stay in existence, unlike our well-financed foes.  We took on the 
2600 case because we believe that we have to stand up to the entertainment 
industry or they will crush any technology that doesn't fit neatly into 
their revenue stream.  It's ludicrous to suggest that we took on Hollywood 
because we expected to get rich!
Shari
~~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Shari Steele
Executive Director                                    ssteele () eff org
Electronic Frontier Foundation                  +1 415 436 9333 x103 (voice)
454 Shotwell Street                                  +1 415 436 9993 (fax)
San Francisco, CA  94110                        http://www.eff.org


"Preserving our freedom is one of the main reasons that we are now
engaged in this new war on terrorism. We will lose that war without firing
a shot if we sacrifice the liberties of the American people."

                              -Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), 10/25/01
                               opposing the enactment of the USA-PATRIOT Act




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