'Winston Smith' Speaks Out On MS Reader Convertor

David H. Rothman writes "'Winston Smith,' an unemployed American high school dropout self-named after 1984's hero, told my TeleRead.org site why he and buddies turned out Convert Lit to crack the Microsoft Reader e-book format. Winston makes clear he is pro-fair use and anti-piracy. Alas, new DMCAish legal restrictions in the United Kingdom will force the Dan Jackson Software site to shut off the Convert Lit downloading later this month. Just as in the States, free speech and fair use apparently matter less in the UK these days than they used to. According to Dan Jackson, Winston 'is indeed the real author of Convert LIT.' Meanwhile, if you're in a country without DMCAish thuggery and can host Dan at a new location, email him ASAP."

Once Again

[Anonymous Coward]

They spend time cracking ebooks, which I will never read, instead of creating a universal porn site user/password hack. I want my naughty teenage lesbians, I just don't want to pay for it!!!

What are they teaching kids these days?

[Anonymous Coward]

Winston Smith is not the hero of 1984. Big Brother is the hero of 1984. Big Brother has always been the hero of 1984.

A new email address might be more useful...

[bergeron76]

Uhm, after posting his [unobscured] email address on the Slashdot Frontpage, I tend to think that we might want to find the guy a new email addy first...

You people sound like kooks

[Anonymous Coward]

The DMCA is good law in any nation. As far as the "thuggishness" comment goes, well I have to say I am saddened by this comment. It demonstrates a lack of respect for the law and the brave officers who enforce the law. The "jackbooted thug" and other comments make me sick and that sort of "speech" ought to be banned. We need zero tolerance policies toward DMCA violators, or any law breakers for that matter who are not in the ruling class. The law enforcement officers have every right to wear whatever kind of boots they want, use any weapons they want (including nuclear, chemical, and biological), and any tactics they want to enforce the law and to stop terrorists like this Winston Smith character. We need special camps for subjects who disobey.

Re:What a Winner

[TopShelf]

Sounds like this guy just hangs out on indmedia and kuro5hin too much. time for him to get out of his parents' basement and smell the fresh air.

Huh??? I thought those are qualifications, at least for ripping off stuff, dude!

Later this month?

[davidstrauss]

Alas, new DMCAish legal restrictions in the United Kingdom will force the Dan Jackson Software site to shut off the Convert Lit downloading later this month.

Slashdot may take care of that before they need to.

Re:it does work

[Anonymous Coward]

Or do what he did and pay nothing. What a maroon. No wonder you're anonymous.