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Here's all the source code (self.maliciouscompliance)

submitted 11 months ago by ExtremeDullard to c/maliciouscompliance@lemmy.world

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In 2000, I wrote a Linux device driver that "decrypted" the output of a certain device, and my company, which hosted open-source projects, agreed to host it.

The "encryption" was only a XOR, but that was enough for the maker of said device to sue my company under 17 U.S.C. § 1201 for hundreds of millions in damages.

The story got a lot of press back then because it highlighted how stupid the then-new DMCA was, and also because there was a David open-source enthusiasts vs. Goliath heartless corporation flavor to it.

Our lawyer decided to pick up the fight to generate free publicity for our fledgling company. For discovery, the maker of the device requested "a copy of any and all potentially infringing source code". They weren't specific and they didn't specify the medium.

So we printed the entire Linux kernel source code including my driver in 5-pt font and sent them the boxes of printouts. Legally they had been served, so there was nothing they could do about it.

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[-] ngdev@lemmy.world 32 points 11 months ago

I think they just stare at it, hoping the vulnerabilities come to them in a moment of revelation. A Linux Joseph Smith, the kernel playing the part of the Golden Plates.

[-] HamBrick@programming.dev 11 points 11 months ago

The small overlap of my two largest hobbies, programming and making fun of Mormons. Perfect.

[-] morgan_423@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

OP said this happened in Utah, so maybe so!

this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2023

912 points (98.2% liked)

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