Prof. Presents Data On Watermarking

Princeton University Professor Edward Felten yesterday for the first time presented publicly his controversial research on circumventing music watermarking technologies. The findings, revealed in a panel at the USENIX Conference in Washington, D.C., have been ground zero in a legal skirmish involving the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and First Amendment rights.

On Monday, Felten filed a brief in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey in opposition to a motion filed July 12 by the RIAA, the Secure Digital Music Initiative Foundation, watermarking firm Verance Corp., and the Justice Department to dismiss his lawsuit seeking freedom-of-speech provisions regarding his research (Bulletin, July 13). In response, the RIAA reiterates its position that Felten should not be allowed to present his findings publicly.

Before filing suit, Felten received a letter from the RIAA threatening legal action if he revealed his findings. A source at the RIAA says the letter was "well-intentioned but clearly too strongly worded."