Slashdot.org, a news hub ‘for nerds,’ has received demands from
lawyers acting for Microsoft that it remove several messages in one
of its discussion forums. Microsoft claim that the messages, which
discuss Microsoft’s tweaks to an open-source security protocol
called “Kerberos,” infringe its copyright.
In a twist to the tale, Slashdot ignored the demands, posted
them to its web site sent a reply from its own lawyer, Mark Robins,
also posted on the Slashdot site, and thereby turned the dispute
into an internet debate on the freedom of speech.
Slashdot’s lawyer argues, among other matters, that Microsoft
cannot claim copyright over enhancements to an open standard
protocol and that Microsoft cannot claim trade secrecy for a
protocol that is distributed over the internet. Robins also asks,
"why shouldn’t Slashdot users and the general public be able to
view this protocol for purposes of commentary and criticism in
light of its apparent relevance to issues in the government’s
antitrust litigation?"
Microsoft’s lawyers’ response is awaited.
