Johansen was just 15 when he co-authored and allegedly
distributed a program called DeCSS. It compromises what is known as
the Content Scramble System, or CSS, found in DVDs, designed to
prevent unauthorised duplication of a DVD's content. He was
prosecuted in response to pressure from Norway's entertainment
industry and the Motion Picture Association of America.
Now 20, Johansen – known by some as 'DVD Jon' – was acquitted in
January of violating a Norwegian data security law prohibiting the
unauthorised compromising of computer security systems. Johansen's
had always argued that the reason he wrote DeCSS was to enable him
to view his own DVDs on his Linux-based computer.
In March, prosecutors were given leave to appeal (something that
could not happen in the UK's legal system), and the case is due to
begin in court next week. The maximum penalty for the offence is
two years' imprisonment and a fine, although prosecutors had asked
for a 90-day suspended sentence in the original trial.
Johansen has since moved on to other projects. This week he
published on his blog a program, known as QTFairUse, that tackles
the digital rights management (DRM) software on Apple's iTunes
music service.
Normally a purchased download from the service is controlled, so
that only a limited number of copies can be made. But Johansen's
program catches the DRM code before it takes effect, and 'dumps' it
into another file, effectively removing the copy protection.
According to Reuters, Johansen has now disputed claims that he
has again been acting illegally, posting the comment on his blog
which is entitled "So Sue Me". He says on it that critics fail "to
understand that by buying into DRM they have given the seller
complete control over the product after it's been sold." They are
"clueless about copyright law", he adds.
