Status of Cryptography Research in implementation of the EUCD

[Owen Lewis]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> [mailto:ukcrypto-admin@chiark.greenend.org.uk]On Behalf Of Adrian
> Midgley
> Sent: 14 August 2002 13:11
> To: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk
> Subject: Re: Status of Cryptography Research in implementation of the
> EUCD

(Big snip to get to the nub of the matter).

> What does one do if one finds the structure of a bridge is such
> that it is
> likely to fail in normal use?  Refrain from infringing the rights of the
> owners to continue profiting from teh tolls, and from their high
> ehgineering
> reputation, or their intellectual propety rights to the design
> being thought
> to be a good one?  I hope not.

As already pointed out at some length, it is hard to find here any principle
suited to absolute application. One can argue differently according to the
facts one chooses. That is one reason why I feel there should that there
should be no absolute privilege above the law (of copyright infringement)
for 'academic researchers. If such privilege should be granted, why just to
academics? Who is an academic? Is a Rastafarian only and truly called by a
vision of God as uniquely revealed in the smoke from a spliff?

Since we're letting our analogies wander widely, is there not comparison to
be made with the activity of a member of your profession at this time, who
is going about telling all and sundry that' the sky is falling' in respect
to a risk to mental health from the MMR vaccine? Now, I have no way of
knowing whether he is right or not. However, it is clear even to me that by
making his controversial claim *publicly*, the directly resulting diminution
in uptake of the vaccine comes at a potential cost in lives and serious
disability. What the true balance of disadvantage is I cannot say but it is
clear that there is *some* such balance to be struck.

In truth, matters are but rarely clear cut and, in general, it is a mistake
to put any class of person above the law based on argument that matters are
absolute. However, there are though those, from the Witchfinder General to
Lavrenti Beria and beyond to our present day, who would doubtless argue
otherwise.

Owen