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Source Code On Trial In DNA Matching Case (post-gazette.com)
An anonymous reader writes: While computer analysis by other programs was inconclusive in matching DNA evidence to a suspect, one program, TrueAllele, gave a match. As reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, an expert witness for the defense wants access to the 170,000 lines of source code to determine whether the match is scientifically valid. Not surprisingly, the software creator is resisting. From the article: "TrueAllele, created by Dr. Perlin and in its current version since 2009, is the only computer software system of its kind that interprets DNA evidence using a statistical model. It can single out individuals in a complex DNA mixture by determining how much more probable a match is versus mere coincidence. Complex mixtures can involve multiple people, as well as degraded or small DNA samples. ... Although the technology is patented, the source code itself is not disclosed by any patent and cannot be derived from any publicly disclosed source. The source code has never been revealed, he said, and it would cause irreparable harm to the company if it were. In his declaration, Dr. Perlin said that reading the source code is unnecessary to validate the program, and that a review could be done in his office or online."
Perhaps it's time for a more open process and open source code backing these types devices before their results are accepted as forensic evidence.
CSI is a lie:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/csi-is-a-lie/390897/
Crime lab major errors:
http://www.mprnews.org/story/2013/02/14/news/saint-paul-crime-lab-major-errors-found
Nothing to do with copyright law.
Watch this Heartland Institute video
It has everything to do with copyright law. It's what the company is using in order to claim that they have a right to keep information from the court.
No, even if they would show the code, it wouldn't become magically free software or public domain. What they claim here is that they want to keep a trade secret.