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"DVD-Jon" Demands Compensation

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the sure-seems-like-he-deserves-something dept.

orzetto writes "Jon Lech Johansen, known as DVD-Jon, and aquitted in a trial in Norway, after being accused of infringement for making a GUI for DeCSS, is now demanding that Norwegian Oekokrim pay for all the time and money he has lost to the trial, claiming 150,000 NOK (about 17,500 euros)."

13 of 450 comments (clear)

  1. FYI by Omega1045 · · Score: 5, Informative

    That is about $22,000. I would want my money back, too.

    --

    Great ideas often receive violent opposition from mediocre minds. - Albert Einstein

    1. Re:FYI by bluekanoodle · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "Are the free lawyers actually any good in Norway?" He got off, didn't he?

    2. Re:FYI by vidarh · · Score: 5, Informative
      Yes, usually they are good. Norway doesn't have a system of public defenders employed by the government, but a system where lawyers are remunerated on an hourly basis (with some limits) and where most lawyers will accept cases as public defenders. There are occasionally cases where lawyers are unwilling to accept cases at the government rates, but it's rare.

      If you are uncomfortable with the lawyer allocated for your defense you are always legally entitled to choose your own lawyer, and in most such cases the lawyer you choose can then be paid by the government at the fixed hourly rate.

      This system also cover civil lawsuits if your salary and savings are below certain levels. In many cases you can get the government to cover your lawyers fees as a plaintiff in civil cases as well, provided the case meets certain criteria and your salary and savings are below the threshold.

      Personally, I once got a publicly allocated defender as I was being drafted (Norway has compulsory military service) and refused to accept their denial of my application to be exempted.

      The case never went to trial (I got it thrown out of court :)), but the lawyer I was allocated was actually one of the most prominent lawyers in Norway, with 30 years experience in similar cases. He took time to read all the documents, talked to me on the phone, had a very relaxed meeting with me in his office, not worrying about how much time we spent. I'm sure not everyone has as pleasant experience with their publicly allocated defenders as I had, but in general I think the system works fairly well.

      (ObDisclaimer: IANAL)

    3. Re:FYI by Tassach · · Score: 5, Insightful
      It'd take a Constitutional amendment to change that
      I wish. Lately, our government hasn't even bothered paying lip service to the Constitution except when it serves their own interests to do so. USA-PATRIOT and subsequent laws are so blatantly un-Constitutional as to make me sick. Secret trials? Warrantless secret searches? US Citizens held indefinately without charges and without access to a lawyer? Criminal defendants denied the right to confront their accusors, and not being allowed to call witnesses on their own behalf?

      If the purpose of the 9/11 attacks was to overthrow Constitutional government, I'd say that they were pretty damn effective.

      --
      Why is it that the proponents of "one nation under God" are so eager to get rid of "liberty and justice for all"?
  2. Microsoft by BenBenBen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe they'll follow Seattle's example and pay him off with a free DVD and a masterclass on DVD authoring.

    I hope the okokrim sues the MPAA for getting them into his mess in the first place...

    --
    The Slashdot Paradox: "100% Overrated"
  3. You win, don't pay by swoebser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think it's common sense that if you're a defendant and found not guilty that you shouldn't have to pay. Frankly, I'm surprised something like this doesn't exist already. Perhaps if the plaintiff had to pay ALL court costs if he/she lost there would be fewer nonsensical lawsuits.

    IANAL, that's just my two cents.

    1. Re:You win, don't pay by |<amikaze · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It would also prevent the little guy from going up against a large corporation. When a large corporation has 20 lawyers working on a case, they can claim exhorbant amounts of money wasted on the court case, and make the guy who has been wronged pay for the whole thing.

  4. Payment from MPAA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Jon, we will compensate you in remaindered copies of 'Little Nicky', 'Crossroads', and 'Ishtar' in DVD."

    1. Re:Payment from MPAA by jtosburn · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Jon, we will compensate you in remaindered copies of 'Little Nicky', 'Crossroads', and 'Ishtar' in DVD."

      ...sorry they're all Region 1, but we figured you'd be ok with that...

  5. In Norway... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...hackers sue the prosecutors!

  6. Re:further more... by cK-Gunslinger · · Score: 5, Funny


    LORD:ROTH ??

    Lord of Real Dirigibles: Return of the Helium ?
    Lord of Research & Development: Return of the Hemoglobin ?
    Lord of Racing Day: Return of the Hemi ?
    Lord of Rubarb Dessert: Return of the Heartburn ?

  7. Me too! by headqtrs · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was forced to read all those damn articles about DVD-Jon. I want to be compensated for this.

  8. Re:He deserves it by dont_think_twice · · Score: 5, Funny

    He deserves it. They wasted enough of his time and money.

    If that logic held, Slashdot would owe me millions of dollars by now.

    hmmmmmm - anyone out there looking to start a class action lawsuit?