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"Super-DMCA" Outlaws Ph.D. Thesis

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the so-much-for-researhc dept.

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?"

2 of 556 comments (clear)

  1. /me marks the list by The_Unforgiven · · Score: 0, Redundant

    /me crosses out Michigan as a state to live in... /me looks at his driver's license, featuring a photo of a bridge on the top...

    Aw, shit.

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    http://wsulug.org
  2. Other things outlawed by this. by stj · · Score: 0, Redundant
    There has been some start to the list. Let's continue:

    cell phones - arguably the conceal where you are calling from

    prepaid cell phones - no comment

    wireless phones - you can call from any place in your house and within quite a decent range outside of it

    how about phone booths?

    all NATs as it has been mentioned zillion times

    walkie-talkie thingies

    baby monitors

    I think that the list is essentially infinite. The real question is how the law would be used. Law in itself is just a piece of paper. GB still has laws dating many centuries back that give some people rights to do weird things (e.g. take a herd of domestic animals across the main London bridge...)

    Say, that, hypothetically, Verizon starts to execute its right to control who connected what to their service. That would be the nail to the end of their broadband service. Nobody would buy any service from them and all those who have it would drop it immediately (or after waiting 'til their 8 months expire to avoid paying some $170 of penalty). IMHO, that's gonna be one more thing we are going to have a good laugh at.

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    iThink iHate iMod