Bozo Galora
Diamond Member
"Facing increasing pressure from online activists, Adobe Systems Monday abruptly urged the release of a Russian programmer jailed last week for allegedly violating anti-piracy laws by distributing software that allows the copying of electronic books.
The plea for the release of Dimitry Skiyarov marks an about face for the San Jose software publishing company and is an embarrassing twist for the technology industries effort to combat the theft of intellectual property.
Adobe had prodded federal authorities to investigate ElComSoft, the Moscow based software company where Sklyarov works, and publicy welcomed his Jul 16 arrest by FBI agents in Las Vegas on a criminal complaint filed by federal authorities in Northern Cal.
But Sklyarovs arrest quickly galvanized online activists, who have turned him into a martyr for their cause. A BoycottAdobe.org website was formed featuring photos of the baby faced programmer, pictures of his family and the slogan "Free Dimitry" in large bold letters. Late Mon. the site bannered "We Win!" accross the page.
Adobe, along with the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an internet free speech group, said it was withdrawing its support for the criminal complaint, noting that the software is no longer available in the US and that 'the prosecution of this individual in this particular case is not conductive to the best interests of any of the parties involved or the industry'"
