A US programmer claims to have written software that cracks the
encryption used to protect the copyrights in e-books compatible
with the popular Microsoft Reader software. So far, his program has
not been publicly released.
The anti-encryption software removes the restrictions that come
with an e-book, such as preventing re-distribution or amendment. If
publicly released, the author faces the risk of criminal charges
under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which is currently
being used in a trial against Russian programmer Dmitry Skylarov
over software which breaks Adobe e-book security.
The programmer’s claim was published anonymously last Thursday
on the web site of MIT Technology Review.
