"Super-DMCA" Outlaws Ph.D. Thesis

zenquest writes "SecurityFocus reports in this article that a recently-enacted Michigan law makes the graduate work of Niels Provos illegal. (His honeyd project was discussed here a few months back.) According to the article, "Among other things, residents of the Great Lakes State can no longer knowingly "assemble, develop, manufacture, possess, deliver, offer to deliver, or advertise" any device or software that conceals "the existence or place of origin or destination of any telecommunications service." It's also a crime to provide written instructions on creating such a device or program. Violators face up to four years in prison." Provos has had to move his website and research papers to a server in the Netherlands. Similar bills are under consideration in seven states, and have become law in six others. The EFF has more information about the individual states. So, does this mean that Caller-ID block now illegal, as well?"

Comments

Disgusting

[ralico]

Is it now also illegal to drop an anonymous note into a suggestion box in Michigan?

Re:Disgusting

[mgs1000]

And you better not forget to put a return address on all of your mail!

Bright Side

[4of12]

Slashdot won't be getting any more AC posts from Michigan.

Dear Ted Turner,

[Anonymous Coward]

Our group is putting together a hostile takeover bid for Haliburton, or even better, Bechtel. Could you please see your way to helping us out with a few million dollars?

thx,
The Comittee to Buy Back the Constitution

Re:outrageous

[workindev]

This makes sense. You don't like a law that a Democrat sponsored, a Democratic legislature voted for, and a Democratic president signed into law. Of course the obvious thing to do is blame the Republicans. Sounds reasonable.

It's real simple...

[sterno]

Republican politicians - rich people
Democratic politicians - guilty rich people

Re:outrageous

[nytes]

Ha! I got you there! Bill Clinton:
1) Signed the No Electronic Theft (NET) Act.
2) Signed the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act.
3) Signed the DMCA.

There you have it - Proof that Clinton was working against the corporate interests, for the little guy, and for a more free and open society.

Re:Which is more illegal, NAT or DNS?

[Ryosen]

You mean they finally figured out a way to get rid of Windows XP? =)

Re:outrageous

[Pinball Wizard]

Every time I've tried to have a rational conversation with a pro-war person...

Every time I've tried to have a rational argument with an anti-war person, they've devolved into frothing at the mouth, repeating the same, tired propaganda which they have swallowed hook, line, and sinker. If you support the war, you get cheap shots from protesters and dissenters calling you bloodthirsty murderers who place human life second to oil profits.

Certainly no argument, however lucid and rational, will ever convince an anti-war protester that taking out a ruthless dictator is the right thing to do. There is no open mind for any kind of dialog there, just blind acceptance that war is baaad, mmmkay?