Re: [microsound] [Fwd: [musictech] Felton pulls paper]

[Jeremy Tolsma <ccws@xxxxxxxx>]

Thats whats known as a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public
Participation), a tool used by those with money to silence their critics.
20 states have implimented anti-SLAPP legislation, and BC aims to be the
first province in Canada to do so.  Of course, libertarians don't like that,
they're not interested in protecting liberties (go figure!).

>
> > Statement read by Edward W. Felten
> > Fourth International Information Hiding Workshop
> > Pittsburgh, PA
> > April 26, 2001
> >
> > "On behalf of the authors of the paper "Reading Between the Lines:
Lessons
> > from the SDMI Challenge," I am disappointed to tell you that we will not
> > be presenting our paper today.
> >
> > Our paper was submitted via the normal academic peer-review process. The
> > reviewers, who were chosen for their scientific reputations and
> > credentials, enthusiastically recommended the paper for publication, due
> > to their judgment of the paper's scientific merit.
> >
> > Nevertheless, the Recording Industry Association of America, the SDMI
> > Foundation, and the Verance Corporation threatened to bring a lawsuit if
> > we proceeded with our presentation or the publication of our
> > paper. Threats were made against the authors, against the conference
> > organizers, and against their respective employers.
> >
> > Litigation is costly, time-consuming, and uncertain, regardless of the
> > merits of the other side's case. Ultimately we, the authors, reached a
> > collective decision not to expose ourselves, our employers, and the
> > conference organizers to litigation at this time.
> >
> > We remain committed to free speech and to the value of scientific debate
> > to our country and the world. We believe that people benefit from
learning
> > the truth about the products they are asked to buy. We will continue to
> > fight for these values, and for the right to publish our paper.
> >
> > We look forward to the day when we can present the results of our
research
> > to you, our colleagues, through the normal scientific publication
process,
> > so that you can judge our work for yourselves."
>
>
>
> --
> http://futureofmusic.org
>
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