McOwen Case Settled

ewilts writes: "Back in July, you ran a story about David McOwen, a computer adminstrator at DeKalb Technical College in Georgia, who was being charged for installing SETI software on school computers. This case has now been settled. See also the EFF press release on McOwen's web site." Update: 01/18 16:11 GMT by M : It was software from distributed.net, not SETI.

Comments

Punishment.

[AnalogBoy]

Now, of course, he gets off light from the government.. but jeeze, think of the internet traffic charges he's gonna rake up from being slashdotted. YOU MEAN HEARTLESS PEOPLE! Have you no decency? Give the man a break.

Re:Powerful implications - Indeed!

[ackthpt]

This decision simply adds an element of criminality to an already bad situation.

<Cut to courtroom somewhere in the USA>

Defendant: "...and then I installed the application on all the computers."

Prosecutor: "You did this, fully aware that it was vulnerable and subject to attacks, which may paralyze the company email system, compromise data, or worse?"

Defendant: "Yes."

Gallery: *GASP*

Prosecutor: "And what was this application?"

Defendant: "MS Outlook."

The prosecutor, appearing struck, glances at a shadowy figure in the gallery who bears some resemblance to John Ashcroft in a trenchcoat and fedora, the figure quickly draws a finger across his throat and the prosecutor recomposes himself.

Prosecutor: "Your honor, the prosecution humbly requests all charges be dropped and that the defendant be released!"