a fine kettle of fish

So, here is the background. Kerberos is an open specification (and code) for security authorization in a network. Microsoft adopted Kerberos for Win2000. However, it made a slight chnage so that Win2000 workstaions could only be authenticated by a Win2000 Kerberos server and not by a Linux or Unix server.

When this initially became known, people protested. Mircosoft promised it would make public its changes. Microsoft did, but only on condition that people signed an agreement (EULA) not to divulge what MS disclosed, thereby eliminating the ability for the Open Source community to mke its servers compatible with Win2000 workstation.

A fierce discussion on <http://www.slashdot.org/> ensued. In the discussion posters revealed the code, ways to get the code from Microsft without agreeing to non-disclosure, and ways to circumvent the code.

The following email was received by slashdot from Microsoft:

   From: "J.K. Weston"
   To: "'dns_admin[_at_]andover.net'"
"'dns_tech[_at_]andover.net'"

   Subject: Notice of Copyright Infringement

            under the Digitial Millennium Copyright Act    Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 07:08:49 -0700    X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2651.58)

   Andover Advanced Technologies
   Andover.Net
   50 Nagog Park
   Acton, MA 01720
   Phone: (978) 635-5300
   Fax: (978) 635-5326
   Email: dns_admin[_at_]andover.net;
   dns_tech[_at_]andover.net

   Dear Internet Service Provider:

   We understand that your website, <http://www.slashdot.org/>, is a popular site for developers to discuss topical issues of interest. In that vein, it has come to our attention that there have been numerous posts of concern related to Microsoft's copyrighted work entitled "Microsoft Authorization Data Specification v. 1.0 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating Systems" and we would appreciate your posting this email to the site to help relay our position to your users.

   This notice is being sent under the provisions, and following the guidelines, of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA).

   Included on <http://www.slashdot.org/> are comments that now appear in your Archives, which include unauthorized reproductions of Microsoft's copyrighted work entitled "Microsoft Authorization Data Specification v.1.0 for Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating Systems" (hereafter "Specification"). In addition, some comments include links to unauthorized reproductions of the Specification, and some comments contain instructions on how to circumvent the End User License Agreement that is presented as part of the download for accessing the Specification.

   Although not intended to be an exhaustive representation, the specific comments below, categorized by corresponding activities, are examples of the misuse of Microsoft's proprietary information:

   Comments Containing A Copy of the Specification:
"by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday, May 02, @03:37PM EST (#197)"
"by BlueUnderwear on Tuesday, May 02, @04:09PM EST (#239)"
"by BlueUnderwear on Tuesday, May 02, @04:15PM EST (#248)"
"by smartin on Tuesday, May 02, @02:20PM EST (#86)"

   Comments Containing Links to Internet Sites with Unauthorized      Copies of the Specification:
"by ka9dgx on Tuesday May 02, @2:52PM EST (#133)"

   Comments Containing Instructions on How to Bypass the End User      License Agreement and Extract the Specification:
"by myconid (my S conid@ P toge A the Mr.net) on Tuesday
     May 02, @07:27PM EST (#362)"
"by markb on Tuesday May 02, @05:47PM EST (#321)"
"by Sami (respect.my[_at_]authorita-dot-net) on Tuesday May 02,
     @01:47PM EST (#19)"
"by iCEBalM (icebalm@[NOSPAM]bigfoot.com) on Tuesday May 02,
     @01:52PM EST (#33)"
"by Jonny Royale (moc.mocten.xi[_at_]notners) on Tuesday, May 02,
     @01:59PM EST (#51)"
"by rcw-work (rcw[_at_]d.e.b.i.a.n.org.without.dots) on Tuesday,
     May 02, @07:12PM EST (#353)"

   Under the provisions of the DMCA, we expect that having been duly notified of this case of blatant copyright violation, Andover will remove the above referenced comments from its servers and forward our complaint to the owner of the referenced comments.

This email notification is a statement made under penalty of perjury that we are the copyright owner of the referenced Specification, that we are acting in good faith, and that the above-referenced comments, as part of <http://www.slashdot.org/>, is posting proprietary material without express written permission.

   We request immediate action to remove the cited violations from Andover's servers, in accordance with the provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

   This email is not intended to waive any of our other rights and remedies.

   Please confirm your receipt of this request by responding to this email. Also, confirm the status of this request either via email or via the following contact mechanisms:

   By mail:
   J.K. Weston, Designated Agent
   Microsoft Corporation
   One Microsoft Way, 114/2314
   Redmond, WA 98052
   By phone:
   (425) 703-5529
   By email: jkweston[_at_]microsoft.com

Regards,
John Lederer
<johnl[_at_]ibm.net> Received on Thu May 11 2000 - 20:22:06 GMT