[ILUG] Microsoft in breach of federal law?

[Colm Buckley]

Saw this in bugtraq just now - thought it was entertaining enough to be
sent around...

> To:       BugTraq
> Subject:  Re: Microsoft ask users to crack win2000 site
> Date:     Wed, Aug 04 1999 21:58:49
> Author:  John Horn
> 
> Aleph1, I don't know if this posting is really pertinent to the list but
> considering the potential for serious penalties, I thought it might be
> advisable to point this out.
> 
> Hmmm, interesting. Nevertheless, such activity contravenes various federal
> statutes and/or possibly state statutes at either the point of origination
> and/or the destination (or both). I would suggest that anyone interested
> in accepting this offer consider the relevant legal issues before actually
> making a compromise attempt on the site. It should be noted that Microsoft
> does not have the authority to waive prosecution under at least one (or
> possibly more) federal statutes. It is quite possible to be prosecuted
> completely without Microsoft's consent.
> 
> It is, in fact, even possible that an invitation to the public to
> contravene federal statutes may, in and of itself, violate other statutes.

So... it is a federal offence to deliberately compromise a web site.  It
is also a federal offence to invite someone to contravene a federal
rule...  so, is Microsoft breaking the law?

        Colm

-- 
Colm Buckley B.A. B.F. # colm at tuatha.org colm.buckley at tcd.ie colm at computer.org
Department of Computer Science      # +353 87 2469146 # whois cb3765
Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland. # http://www.tuatha.org/~colm/
If I wanted to hear the patter of tiny feet, I'd put clogs on my cat.