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Hans Arne Iversen
7th January 2003, 14:22
A Norwegian teenager was cleared of DVD piracy charges on Tuesday in a landmark trial brought on behalf of major Hollywood studios.
The court here said Jon Johansen, known in Norway as "DVD Jon," had not broken the law when he helped unlock a code and distribute a computer program enabling unauthorized copying of DVD movies.
"Johansen is found not guilty," Judge Irene Sogn, flanked by two technical experts, told the court. "The verdict is unanimous." She said prosecutors could appeal the ruling.
Prosecutors had asked for a 90-day suspended jail term for Johansen, 19, who developed the program when he was 15.
The teenager has become a symbol for hackers worldwide who say making software such as Johansen's--called DeCSS--is an act of intellectual freedom rather than theft.

http://news.com.com/2100-1023-979414.html?tag=fd_nbs_emed

Jou can hear the jugde here (http://www.vg.no/video/livelyd/?wma=mms://vg.nr.no/lista/2002/dvdjon.wma) (I'ts in Norwegian)
Ole Martin
7th January 2003, 17:48
Funny Hans Arne.

The only ones in here who understood the judge is us. :D

:rofl:

Smart kid tho. :)
Hans Arne Iversen
8th January 2003, 01:06
Not only us. There are both Swedish, Danish and at-least one other Norwegian member (Ulv is Norwegian) of the BB.
Bruce
8th January 2003, 02:10
Language being what it is, there are two ways to read your post, Ole.

I know you didn't mean it this way, but I prefer to read that "The Judge is Us" is a fact that should be understood. Frankly, that puts a rather different spin on the topic. We, the members of the world who create something called "public opinion" are the judges who decide if the entertainment industry should have laws protecting copy protection or whether the world should be free to hack a DVD. Ultimately, it is our opinion that matters.

Strange, that English can do that to this discussion.
MikeTimbers
8th January 2003, 02:55
A victory for common-sense. How unusual!
Lazarus
8th January 2003, 04:33
It's a pity that it doesn't set a precedent outside of Norway. :(
veggyhed
8th January 2003, 08:30
How far reaching will the verdict go ? It has to spill onto the international front.
Lazarus
8th January 2003, 11:15
Is Norway part of the EU these days? If so, then maybe.
Hans Arne Iversen
8th January 2003, 13:35
No, we are not member of EU.
Ole Martin
8th January 2003, 18:10
We're the only country up here without membership.
But I think that will turn soon.
Not sure if that is bad or good these days.
Woted no last time tho. Not sure wht I would now. :confused: