FC: DMCA vs. The Garage Door Opener

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[I've copied the attorneys for the plaintiffs in case they wish to reply to 
Fred. For their reference: Politech is a moderated discussion forum 
populated by many members of the legal community, and I attempt to include 
all reasonable, well-stated views. --Declan]

---

Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 18:48:21 -0800
Subject: DMCA v garage door openers
From: Fred von Lohmann EFF <fred () eff org>
To: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>

[Feel free to post to Politech]

In the latest bit of DMCA lunacy, copyright guru David Nimmer turned me
onto a case that his firm is defending, where a garage door opener
company (The Chamberlain Group) has leveled a DMCA claim (among other
claims) against the maker of universal garage door remotes (Skylink).
Yet another case where the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA
are being used to impede legitimate competition, similar to the Lexmark
case. Not, I think, what Congress had in mind when enacting the DMCA.

The Complaint:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/20030113_chamberlain_v_skylink_complaint.pdf

The Amended Complaint:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/ 20030114_chamerberlain_v_skylink_amd_complaint.pdf

The Summary Judgment Motion:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DMCA/20030113_chamerlain_v_skylink_motion.pdf

Attorneys for Sklylink are (both at the Orange County offices of Irell
& Manella, a large law firm):

"Nobles, Kimberley" <KNobles () irell com>
"Greene, Andra" <AGreene () irell com>

Fred
--
Fred von Lohmann
Senior Intellectual Property Attorney
Electronic Frontier Foundation
fred () eff org  +1 (415) 436-9333 x123




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