MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) DVD Cases Archive

Files in this Archive

20020703_eff_2600_pr.html

2600 Magazine Won't Seek Supreme Court Review in DVD Case, Activists Vow to Continue Digital Copyright Fight

20020114_ny_eff_pr.html

Electronic Frontier Foundation Media Release: Magazine Seeks Relief from Court-Ordered Censorship - Urges Decision to Permit Publication of DVD Decoder Software. New York - 2600 Magazine today requested that the full US Second Circuit Court of Appeals reverse an earlier ruling prohibiting publication of the software code called DeCSS which permits DVD owners to view DVDs on players that are not approved by the entertainment industry. (Jan. 14, 2002)

20020114_ny_2600_appeal.html

2600 Magazine appeal for en banc review by US Second Circuit Court of Appeals of appellate panel decision, in MPAA v. Corley, et al. (Jan 14, 2002)

20011128_ny_appeal_decision.html

US Second Circuit Court of Appeals Decision, affirming District Court ruling against defendants, in Universal v. Reimerdes (the New York 2600/DeCSS Case) (Nov. 28, 2001)

20011128_ny_appeal_decision.pdf

US Second Circuit Court of Appeals Decision, affirming District Court ruling against defendants, in Universal v. Reimerdes (the New York 2600/DeCSS Case) (Nov. 28, 2001) [PDF version]

20010530_ny_eff_supl_brief.html

EFF Supplemental Letter Brief, responding to Second Circuit judges' First Amendment questions, and pointing out issues raised by new Supreme Court ruling that have bearing on the case, in Corley v. Universal appeal (2600 case, a.k.a. DVD DeCSS case). (May 30, 2001)

20010530_ny_eff_supl_exhib.html

EFF motion ("Declaration of Edward Hernstadt & Motion for Leave to File Exhibits in Support of Defendants' Supplemental Brief"), in Corley v. Universal appeal (May 30, 2001) [Exhibits themselves may be forthcoming and appended to or referenced from this document.]

20010620_ny_doj_supl_brief.html

U.S. Department of Justice's Supplemental Letter Brief, responding to the Court's First Amendment questions, and backing the MPAA position on the issue, in Corley v. Universal City Studios appeal, U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit. (June 20, 2001)

20010530_ny_mpaa_supl_brief.html

MPAA Supplemental Letter Brief, responding to Second Circuit judges' First Amendment questions, unconvincingly denying that First Amendment issues are raised, and questionably suggesting that the lower court's injunction, and DMCA itself, target activities and devices, not speech. (May 30, 2001)

20010530_ny_eff_supl_brief_pr.html

New York -- (Press release) The Electronic Frontier Foundation today filed its answers to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals' request for additional briefing in a case concerning 2600 Magazine's right to publish DeCSS software. After Stanford Dean Kathleen Sullivan argued for the defense on the May 1st hearing; on May 8 the Court asked the parties to answer 11 additional questions that focused on EFF's First Amendment arguments. EFF's supplmental brief relies on recent Supreme Court case reaffirming the press' right to publish truthful information that is of public interest. (May 30, 2001)

20010510_ny_eff_augment_order_pr.html

New York - The Federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals today asked the parties in the 2600 Case (Universal et al. v. Corley, et al.) to file supplemental briefs on May 30, 2001, focusing on the First Amendment issues raised in the case. EFF is sponsoring 2600's appeal of a lower court injunction against the magazine publishing or even linking to the DeCSS DVD decryption program or its source code. (May 10, 2001)

20010508_ny_augment_order.html

Response Augmentation Order in Universal, et al. v. 2600, et al., from 3-judge panel of the US 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals. Order permits parties to augment previous responses with more material, up to 25 pages, and specifically asks for answers to a series of questions relating to the First Amendment issues. (May 8, 2001)

20010501_ny_hearing_transcript.html

Transcript of Oral Argument in Universal v. Reimerdes, et al. Electronic Frontier Foundation and 2600 Magazine take on the Motion Picture Assocation of America and the US Dept. of Justice before a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. (May 1, 2001)

20010426_ny_eff_appeal_pr.html

Electronic Frontier Foundation Press Release: In a case involving free speech rights and fair use of DVDs, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the appeal of 2600 Magazine in Universal v. Remeirdes at 10:00 a.m. on May 1, 2001. Dean Kathleen Sullivan of Stanford Law School will argue the case on behalf of the magazine. (Released Apr. 26, 2001)

20010402_ny_eff_sullivan_pr.html

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) today announced that Kathleen Sullivan, noted Constitutional scholar and Dean of Stanford Law School, will join the defense team for 2600 Magazine. Sullivan will argue this landmark case about free speech and copyright on the Internet before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York on May 1, 2001. Case centers on recording industry attempts to restrain publication of publicly known technical details in a magazine. (Apr. 2, 2001)

20010319_ny_eff_appeal_reply_brief.html

Appellate reply brief by Electrnic Frontier Foundation on behalf of 2600 Magazine, in Universal v. Reimerdes (Mar. 19, 2001)

20010313_ny_dvdcca_amicus.html

Amicus Curiae brief of the DVD Copy Control Association (DVD-CCA) in the New York DVD Case. (Mar. 13, 2001) [Ironically, there is little difference between MPAA and DVD-CCA; the overlap in membership, when corporate ownership is traced, is near-total. MPAA is essentially cheating here, giving itself an opportunity to file an extra brief. Unfortunately, the court did not appear to notice this.]

20010312_ny_law_profs_amicus_for_op.html

Amicus Curiae of four law professors written in support of our entertainment industry opposition in the NY DVD case (Mar. 12, 2001).

20010228_ny_op_reply_brief.html

The brief for the motion picture studios in the NY DVD case (Feb. 28, 2001).

20010219_doj_reply_brief.html

This is the government reply brief as an intervenor in support or the MPAA.

20010126_ny_eff_pressrel.html

EFF press release on series of amici briefs in EFF/2600 appeal of District Court's pro-DMCA injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. diverse groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, Association for Computing Machinery Law Committee, American Library Association and others asked the appellate court to overturn the lower court's ruling. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_aclu_pressrel.html

ACLU press release on filing of joint ACLU/DFC/library groups amicus brief in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_journpub_amicus.html

Amicus brief of journalist and publisher groups, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_lawprofs_amicus.html

Amicus brief of numerous law professors, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_2profs_amicus.html

Amicus brief of Professors Yochai Benkler & Lawrence Lessig, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_acmlc_amicus.html

Amicus brief of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Law Committee, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_progacad_amicus.html

Amicus brief of numerous programmers and academics, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_edu_amicus.html

Amicus brief of educators who relay on fair use, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010126_ny_lib_amicus.ps

Library & public interest group Amicus brief, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MAPA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan 26, 2001) PostScript (.PS) Level 1 format (viewable with GhostScript, Acrobat or Illustrator, or printable on any PostScript-compatible printer). [733K]

20010126_ny_lib_amicus.ps.zip

Library & public interest group Amicus brief, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MAPA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan 26, 2001) PostScript Level 1 (.PS) format (viewable with GhostScript, Acrobat or Illustrator, or printable on any PostScript-compatible printer; ZIP compressed). [370K]

20010126_ny_lib_amicus.eps

Library & public interest group Amicus brief, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MAPA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan 26, 2001) Encapsulated PostScript (.EPS) Level 1 format (viewable with GhostScript, Acrobat or Illustrator, or printable on any PostScript-compatible printer). [330K]

20010126_ny_lib_amicus.eps.zip

Library & public interest group Amicus brief, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MAPA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan 26, 2001) Encapsulated PostScript (.EPS) Level 1 format (viewable with GhostScript, Acrobat or Illustrator, or printable on any PostScript-compatible printer; ZIP compressed). [177K]

20010126_ny_lib_amicus.pdf

Library & public interest group Amicus brief, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MAPA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan 26, 2001) Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format (viewable only with Acrobat) [177K]

20010126_ny_lib_amicus.pdf.zip

Library & public interest group Amicus brief, in support of 2600 appeal of injunction in MAPA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan 26, 2001) Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) format (viewable only with Acrobat; ZIP compressed). [61K]

20010119_ny_eff_appeal_pressrel.html

EFF press release on EFF/2600 filing of appeal challenging District Court's pro-DMCA injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 26, 2001)

20010119_ny_eff_appeal_brief.html

EFF/2600 appeal brief challenging District Court's pro-DMCA injunction in MPAA's DVD/DeCSS lawsuit. (Jan. 19, 2001)

20000906_ny_2nd_revision_order.html

Judge's order for (2nd) revision of decision in MPAA v. Corley (a.k.a. Universal et al. v. Reimerdes et al). Order refers to a number of corrected pages, but the actual text of these pages is not included with the order. (NY; Sep. 6, 2000; incomplete).

20000830_ny_amended_opinion.pdf

Judge's (1st) revision of the decision in MPAA v. Corley (a.k.a. Universal et al. v. Reimerdes et al). Includes unconstitutional prohibition of linking to, as well as posting the source code of, DeCSS. (NY; Aug. 30, 2000; superceded).

20000824_ny_docket.html

Case Docket for MPAA v. Corley, et al. (as of Aug. 24, 2000; NY).

20000817_ny_opinion.pdf

Initial version of Judge's decision in MPAA v. Corley (a.k.a. Universal et al. v. Reimerdes et al), finding entirely in favor of the plaintiffs (MPAA). (NY; Aug. 17, 2000; superceded).

20000808_ny_post_trial_brief.html

Defendant's post-trial brief. (NY; August 8, 2000).

20000725_ny_trial_transcript.html

The sixth and final day of trial proceedings in MPAA v. 2600. The transcript contains the testimonies of Chris DiBona, Olevario Craig, Professor Michael Einhorn, Professor David Touretzky, and Professor Andrew Appel. The transcript also contains discussions regarding evidence. (NY; July 25, 2000).

20000721_ny_trial_transcript.html

The fifth day of trial proceedings in MPAA v. 2600. The transcript contains the continuing testimony of Emmanuel Goldstein, Professor Larry Peterson, Professor Ramadge, Matthew Pavlovich. (NY; July 21, 2000).

20000720_ny_trial_transcript.html

The fourth day of trial proceedings in MPAA v. 2600. The transcript contains the testimonies of Jon Johansen, Mikhail Reider, and the direct examination of Emmanuel Goldstein. (NY; July 20, 2000).

20000719_ny_trial_transcript.html

The third day of trial proceedings in MPAA v. 2600. The transcript contains the testimonies of Marsha King and Franklin Fisher. (NY; July 19, 2000).

20000718_ny_trial_transcript.html

The second day of trial proceedings in MPAA v. 2600. The transcript contains the testimonies of Frank Stevenson and Robert Schumann, as well as the beginning of direct examination of Marsha King. (NY; July 18, 2000).

20000717_ny_trial_transcript.html

The first day of trial proceedings in MPAA v. 2600. The transcript contains opening statements of plaintiffs and defendants as well as the entire testimony of Dr. Michael Shamos. (NY; July 17, 2000).

20000714_ny_def_recus_aff.html

Affidavit and Certification of Good Faith of Martin Garbus in support of defendant's motion for recusal and/or disqualification of Judge Kaplan. (NY; July 14, 2000).

20000714_ny_def_recus_memo.html

Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant's Combined Motion For Recusal and/or Disqualification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ¤ 455(a) and (b)(2) and 18 U.S.C. ¤ 144. (NY; July 14, 2000).

20000714_ny_ramadge_dep.html

Deposition of Peter Ramadge, in MPAA v. 2600. (NY; July 14, 2000).

20000713_ny_touretzky_dep.html

Deposition of David Touretzky, in MPAA v. 2600. (PA; July 13, 2000).

20000710_ny_peterson_dep.html

Deposition of Larry Peterson, in MPAA v. 2600. (NY; July 10, 2000).

20000709_ny_schneier_dep.html

Deposition of Bruce Schneier, in MPAA v. 2600. (CA; July 9, 2000).

20000708_ny_dibona_dep.html

Deposition of Chris DiBona, in MPAA v. 2600. (CA; July 8, 2000).

20000708_ny_simons_dep.html

Deposition of Barbara Simons, in MPAA v. 2600. (CA; July 8, 2000).

20000707_ny_felton_dep.html

Deposition of Edward Felton, in MPAA v. 2600. (NY; July 7, 2000).

20000705_ny_craig_dep.html

Deposition of Olegario Craig, in MPAA v. 2600. (MA; July 5, 2000).

20000705_ny_abelson_dep.html

Deposition of Harold Abelson, in MPAA v. 2600. (MA; July 5, 2000).

20000630_ny_shamos_decl.html

Declaration of Michael Shamos, faculty member of the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University. Shamos relates the results of experiments he conducted for plaintiffs, in which he investigated the feasibility of obtaining DeCSS and transferring converted DVDs over the Internet. (PA; June 30, 2000).

20000629_ny_appel_dep.html

Deposition of Andrew Appel, in MPAA v. 2600. (NY; June 29, 2000).

20000627_ny_discov_hearing.html

Transcript of June 27 discovery hearing, in MPAA v. 2600. The MPAA request to quash the deposition of Michael Eisner is discussed at length as well as the defendants' motion to adjourn trial. In addition, Judge Kaplan summarizes the core questions in the case and mentions the effect of the 6th circuit Junger decision on the case. (NY; June 27, 2000).

20000627_ny_goldstein_dep.html

Deposition of Emmanuel Goldstein, in MPAA v. 2600. (NY; June 27-28, 2000).

20000623_ny_mpaa_eisner_letter.html

MPAA letter to Judge Kaplan requesting that the court prevent the deposition of Michael Eisner, Chairman and CEO of Disney. The MPAA claims that despite Eisner's public speeches and testimony in Congress against the piracy of intellectual property, he has no knowledge of the MPAA efforts to ban DeCSS. (NY; June 23, 2000).

20000607_ny_eff_pr.html

EFF's DVD legal team successfully opposed the MPAA's request to block the public from obtaining discovery materials in litigation over DeCSS computer code. (San Francsico; June 7, 2000)

20000608_ny_discov_hearing.html

Transcript of discovery hearing, in MPAA v. 2600. The discussions of preparation for trial include the time-frame and privilege issues regarding the depositions of individual MPAA members and employees in order to find out more about the MPAA investigation of DeCSS. (NY; June 8, 2000).

20000607_ny_attaway_dep.html

Deposition of Fritz E. Attaway, Senior Vice President for government relations and Washington general counsel of MPAA. (Washington, DC; June 7, 2000)

20000606_ny_valenti_dep.html

Deposition of Jack Valenti, President & CEO of MPAA. Valenti admits to not knowing whether DeCSS was in fact used for piracy of DVDs nor whether the MPAA and its members have lost any money due to piracy via DeCSS. Valenti also expresses an impossibly strict understanding of the DMCA, claiming that there can be no fair use for any type of copying of DVDs. (Washington, D.C.; June 6, 2000).

20000524-25_ny_protect_order.html

Deposition of Fritz E. Attaway, Senior Vice President for government relations and Washington general counsel of MPAA. (Washington, D.C.; June 7, 2000)

20000524_ny_mpaa_cryptome_cease.html

20000522_ny_disqual_opinion.html

20000517-18_ny_jacobsen_dep.html

Deposition of Kenneth A. Jacobsen, worldwide director of anti-piracy operations for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). (NY; May 17-18, 2000)

20000515_ny_schumann_dep.html

Deposition of Robert W. Schumann, in MPAA v. 2600. (NY; May 15, 2000).

20000512_ny_motions_order.html

20000510_ny_meislin_affidavit.html

Affidavit of Richard Meislin, editor-in-chief of New York Times Digital. (NY; May 10, 2000).

20000510_ny_def_nesson_amicus.html

Amicus brief by Prof. Charles Nesson of Harvard, in which he suggests that 'anticircumvention' law must either be read narrowly to permit fair use, or is unconstitutional.

20000508_ny_def_dismiss_affidavit.html

Martin Garbus Affidavit and Order to Show Cause: Defendants' Motion Pursuant to Rules 65 and 37, or to Vacate Preliminary Injunction. (NY; May 8, 2000)

20000504_ny_eff_press_release.html

EFF press release about the New York court filings opposing a linking ban and asking that the current preliminary injunction be vacated.

20000503_ny_def_goldstein_samuelson_decl.html

Declarations by Emmanuel Goldstein, defendant; and by Pamela Samuleson, law professor. Goldstein shows his 25-year press credentials. Samuelson explains why the DMCA should not be read to eliminate fair use and interoperability.

20000503_ny_def_linking_reply.html

Defendants' opposition to expanding the preliminary injunction to include linking; and cross-motion to vacate the preliminary injunction. Includes declarations by Harold Abelson, Andrew Appel, Chris DiBona, Bruce Fries, Martin Garbus, Martin Garbus CV, John Gilmore, Robin Gross, Lewis Kurlantzick, Eben Moglen, Matt Pavlovich, Bruce Schneier, Barbara Simons, Frank Stevenson, Dave Touretsky, David Wagner, John Young

20000428_ny_nyt_article.html

20000306_ny_mpaa_linking_motion.html

Plaintiffs' motion to expand the preliminary injunction so that it covers links to DeCSS as well as posting it yourself. Also expands definition of DeCSS to include all past and future programs that can break CSS. Slimy.

20000202_ny_memorandum_order.html

Judge's Memorandum Order, constituting the judge's "findings of fact and conclusions of law" in support of his granting the MPAA's request for a preliminary injunction against defendants posting the DeCSS software to their own web sites. From MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY, Feb. 2, 2000)

20000121_ny_hearing_transcript.html

Transcript of hearing, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY; Jan. 21, 2000)

20000120_ny_pi_order.html

Order granting plaintiffs' request for preliminary injunction against defendants, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY; Jan. 20, 2000)

20000120_ny_eff_press_release.html

EFF Press Release: Three Netizens Silenced by Motion Picture Industry in Early DVD Court Order; Electronic Frontier Foundation Vows to Continue Legal Fight. (NY; Jan. 20, 2000)

20000114_ct_mpaa_complaint.html

Members of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) complaint, filed in the United States District Court of Connecticut against Jeremiah Hughes, operator of the 2600.com Web site in Connecticut. Plaintiff's ask the court to enjoin Hughes from posting the DeCSS de-encryption software program on his Web site or any other software code which violates the anti-circumvention measures of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). They also seek damages, court costs, and attorney' s fees. (CT; Jan. 14, 2000).

20000114_ny_mpaa_complaint.html

Members of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) complaint, filed in the United States District Court of New York against Shawn C. Reimerdes, Eric Corley, and Roman Kazan, operators of several Web sites. Plaintiffs ask the court to enjoin defendants from posting the DeCSS de-encryption software program on their Web site or any other software code which violates the anti-circumvention measures of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA). They also seek damages, court costs, and attorney' s fees. (NY; Jan. 14, 2000).

20000114_ny_mpaa_attaway_pi_decl.html

Declaration of Fritz Attaway, senior vice president and general counsel for the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), in support of MPAA's complaint against Shawn C. Reimerdes, Eric Corley, and Roman Kazan in the United States District Court of New York. Attaway discusses the impact DeCSS could potentially have on the motion picture industry, and claims that the DeCSS software program violates the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA. (NY; Jan. 14, 2000).

20000114_ny_mpaa_boyden_pi_decl.html

Declaration of Bruce E. Boyden for Plaintiffs, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY; Jan. 14, 2000)

20000114_ny_mpaa_ostroff_pi_decl.html

Declaration of Michael Ostroff for Plaintiffs, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY; Jan. 14, 2000)

20000114_ny_mpaa_pi_memo.html

Plaintiff's Preliminary Injunction Memorandum, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY, Jan. 14, 2000)

20000114_ny_mpaa_rule1.9_statement.html

Plaintiff's Rule 1.9 Statement, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY, Jan. 14, 2000)

20000114_ny_mpaa_summons.html

Summons [to Defendants], in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (NY; Jan. 14, 2000)

20000114_ny_pi_cause_order.html

Order [to Defendants] to Show Cause, in MPAA v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan (officially Universal City Studios, Inc. et al. v. Reimerdes, Corley and Kazan) (NY; Jan. 14, 2000)

20000115_ny_ct_eff_press_release.html

EFF Press Release: Film Industry Escalates Legal Attacks on Technical Community: New Lawsuits Over DVD Security Filed in Federal Court (NY, CT; Jan. 15, 2000)

Subdirectories in This Archive

DVD_Updates/

EFF's "DVD Update" bulletins, with the latest news in all of our DVD-related cases.

Related On-Site Resources

DVD CCA case (CA; 1999-2000)

Bernstein v. D.O.J.

DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act)

DeCSS prosecutions (2000)

Links to Related Off-Site Resources

John Young's excellent Cryptome archive of DVD-DeCSS documents

MPAA press release on the filing of the cases

The Openlaw/DVD pages

From Harvard Law.

PoliTech Archive on DeCSS

PoliTech Archive on DMCA

PoliTech Archive on DVDs