Slashdot.org: Alan Cox Talks about Laws… and Linux

“Given that you won’t visit the USA given the enactment of
the DMCA. If the DMCA equivalent passes in Europe, will you move?
If so, is there anywhere that is safe from this kind of insane law
(it sounds like peru may be a new haven for free
software)?

“Alan:

“It’s very hard to fight laws in foreign countries. Dmitry for
example was almost certainly chosen because he was Russian. It’s
sadly much easier to win a case in almost any country when you use
your historical enemies and prejudices to set the precedents.
‘Foreigner attacking US business interests’ just sounds so much
better in court than ‘clever kid helping his grandma read ebooks,’
especially when someone notices you can easily get a longer
sentence for helping grandma read than kicking her down the
stairs.

“In the EU we are doing what we can to make the EUCD harm
limited, and also trying to educate politicians on the damage they
have done. If we can tell them in advance the problems the EUCD is
going to cause we can help them frame futher law to prevent those
abuses, and to update it…”

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