It is important that Felton win his case. What I wonder is even if he does will the courts create only a very narrow exception for credentialed scientists working at recognized institutions? As far as I'm concerned anyone who is curious, learns something and wants to publish should have the same rights as a prof at any university. So even if he wins the battle is far from over.
This seems like a likely outcome, part of the "credentialling of America." There are parts of biological research which can only be done by approved, credentialled researchers. Ditto for weapons work of various kinds. (And I won't even get into the licensing of increasing numbers of professions, licensing which is really part of a rent-seeking deal by _established_ actors and also part of a _control_ method welcomed by government.) In direct analogy with Mike's point above, thing about locksmiths and locksmith tools. In many places, only "certified locksmiths" may possess even simple lock picks and diagrams of locks. (As with most such limitations on freedom, I don't think the Supreme Court has ever heard a major case on the constitutionality of making possession of a lock diagram a thought crime.) The DMCA is like this ban on locksmithing tools and knowledge. It obviously doesn't apply to the _developers_ of such "locks," only to those outside the guild who try to analyze them. --Tim May, not a licensed and certified political commentator, so read my words before the new laws take effect -- Timothy C. May tcmay@got.net Corralitos, California Political: Co-founder Cypherpunks/crypto anarchy/Cyphernomicon Technical: physics/soft errors/Smalltalk/Squeak/agents/games/Go Personal: b.1951/UCSB/Intel '74-'86/retired/investor/motorcycles/guns