Ask Ed Felten About Watermarking Analysis And More

Dr. Edward Felten is in a funny position -- or perhaps not so funny. He's the Princeton researcher who took up the challenge posed by the music industry to find flaws in the SMDI watermarking scheme, but didn't enter into the 'no-telling' bargain (here's the click-through agreement [pdf]) which would have made him eligible for a reward, so wasn't bound by non-disclosure terms. When a scheduled academic presentation on the weaknesses [pdf] that he and his colleages found in SDMI became the object of lawsuit threats from the RIAA, and caused him to cancel the planned presentation, Felten decided to turn the tables, and in cooperation with the EFF, sue them instead, for interfering with his scholarly research. Though he did eventually get to present his research, the legal action is still going. Dr. Felten is at a hearing today in Trenton, NJ, but he's agreed to answer questions from Slashdot readers. Please confine your questions carefully (one per post), and we'll pass the highest-moderated ones on for his answers.

Comments

Mathematical feasability

[Mdog]

Do you believe that what the RIAA is trying to do is mathematically feasable, and that their attempt was merely the wrong way of going about the problem, or do you believe that what is being attempted is fundamentally impossible?

What do you further hope to accomplish

[ruebarb]

As of today, I understand that you are able to give presentations based upon the flaws you've discovered in digital watermarking. In essence, you have won this battle...However, you are still continuing your lawsuit against the RIAA.

What do you hope to accomplish further, and in your opinion, what could be the best possible outcome from your lawsuit against the RIAA.

Expectations/Precedent

[LaNMaN2000]

I wish you the best with regards to your suit against the RIAA; their intimidation tactics are despised by almost everybody in this community. But, though IANAL, I was wondering what precedent there is for this type of lawsuit. What damages have you suffered as a result of the RIAA's actions (you were ultimately able to present your research) and what resolution do you ultimately hope to attain? Do you really believe that such a goal is within reach, given the DeCSS/Napster rulings?

how has this affected you personally ?

[cats-paw]

Everybody likes to talk about standing up for free speech, but many would rather sit on the bench than actually step up to the plate.

How has this situation affected you personally ?

Has it increased your level of day to day stress ?

Do you lose sleep over it ?

I'm referring both to your original decision to publish your work and your current legal effort.