From: Richard Stallman <rms@gnu.org> To: dmitry-plan@eff.org, dmitry-boston@lesser-magoo.lcs.mit.edu Subject: [DMITRY-BOSTON] Continuing the fight Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2001 23:36:46 -0700 (MST) Cc: poole@allseer.com, kmself@ix.netcom.com Dmitry Sklyarov is safe from the DMCA, but Americans are not. We must not lose the impetus that his case provided. The dropping of charges against Sklyarov is a good thing, but we must not think of it as our victory, because we did not win it. Rather, it is largesse from powers that feel completely triumphant. They believe that their successes in court, together with the example presented by Sklyarov's treatment so far, make their dominion so strong that nothing can challenge it. It is up to us to change this state of affairs. In general, we should focus on Adobe and the other corporations that paid for and use the DMCA, not on the FBI and DOJ which are merely their servants. The DMCA is a weapon; those who choose to use it against the public should be held morally responsible for their decision to do so. Sklyarov must have large legal expenses, and expenses for his unintended stay in the US. These represent an injury that was done to him by Adobe. We should demand that Adobe compensate him for this injury, and promise they will never do to anyone else what they did to him. Until they do, we should picket their offices and urge the public to refuse to do business with them. In cities where there is an active group of protestors but no important Adobe presence, we can picket publishing companies that issue Adobe ebooks. Or other companies that in some way menace us with the DMCA, such as movie companies or record companies. Or legislators such as Barney Frank who supported the DMCA. It might be useful for someone to find a schedule of Pat Schroeder's public appearances--or ask the public to be on the lookout for them. She gave a speech in the Boston area in October, a campaign appearance for a candidate, and I was mailed a letter about it; unfortunately I was travelling and did not see the letter until too late. If her friends find that her support brings a protest, she may find herself a less valued acquaintance.