On Sat, 21 Jul 2001, John Young wrote:

Declan:

...

The problem with this analysis is that he does not have to be the main commercial beneficiary for the charges to stick.

But, to repeat, why the worker and not his bosses? Is this a way for Adobe/FBI/DoJ to signal the interest of its own bosses?

Very good question.

And why are the protests limited to Adobe when the FBI and DoJ are doing the dirty work -- well, actually, low-level FBI and DoJ? Oops, that's right, don't fuck with workers-pissed- at-their-bosses who have the guns which they'd like to turn upstairs.

The protests aren't limited to Adobe. In fact, some of the protests occuring Monday are taking place at DoJ buildings. On Friday, a cypherpunk and a 2600 member crashed Ashcroft's press conference at Versign, and put copies of the EFF's letter to Ashcroft into the hands of nearly all of the reporters present. The DoJ is not being ignored. As for the organized mass rallies, Adobe is first on the protest list, however, since it is clear that they are behind the FBI and DoJ's actions. And, if Adobe were to withdraw its complaint, it is likely that charges would be dropped and Dmitry freed. If Adobe withdraws its complaint and Dmitry is not returned to his family, we will turn our attention full-force toward the DoJ. "There is perhaps nothing quite as distressing as the unintended consequences of well-intentioned government." --Ashcroft.