[IP] more on StarForce claims criticism of its anti-copying software is "harassment, " contacts FBI [fs]

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Date: January 31, 2006 1:37:20 PM EST
To: politech@politechbot.com
Subject: [Politech] StarForce claims criticism of its anti-copying  
software is "harassment, " contacts FBI [fs]

Cory Doctorow, a former EFF staff member, dared to criticize as  
"malware" an anti-copying technology used in many video games and  
created by a company called StarForce:
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/30/anticopying_malware_.html

Now StarForce's PR Manager Dennis Zhidkov, who lives in Moscow, is  
making spurious legal threats. Zhidkov claimed, variously, that  
StarForce will "press charges," that the published criticism violates  
"11 international laws," and that he has contacted the FBI to protest  
"harassment." See:
http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/31/starforce_threatens_.html

Here's information about Mr. Zhidkov:
http://www.star-force.com/protection.phtml?c=83&id=692

And a discussion of this silliness:
http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/01/31/1721241.shtml

It would be silliness, at least, if there was zero chance that this  
will escalate. But sometimes companies have more money than sense,  
and there's at least a possibility that StarForce will follow through  
on its  threat and file a vexatious lawsuit designed to shut up its  
critics. So it's important to show our support for Cory.

-Declan
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