ElcomSoft wants copyright case dismissed

The Russian company facing charges of breaking US copyright law has filed for the case to be dismissed, according to reports.

ElcomSoft, the firm standing behind employee Dmitri Sklyarov, has been selling a program that lets users of Adobe's eBook Reader copy and print digital books and distribute them to other PCs, which can read them out loud.

The software company is charged with breaking the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, but claims that the law is unclear and should not apply to foreign companies.

ElcomSoft's legal advisors have said that the firm makes software that lets users with lawful rights to copyrighted material access it for personal use.

US film studios and software vendors have cited the Act to control how computer programs and digital movies are used by the public.

They argue that, because electronic material is easily distributed, it should benefit from greater legal protection than printed material.

If found guilty, ElcomSoft faces a fine of $2.25m (£1.59m).

See also:

Adobe DoS vulnerability exposed

Elcomsoft finds more eBook failings  15 Jul 2002

Skylarov employer faces criminal charges

Elcomsoft fails to get copyright infringement case dropped  09 May 2002

Dmitri deal is struck

Skylarov is offered freedom in exchange for testifying against his employer  14 Dec 2001

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