DVD Jon Lands Dream Job Stateside - Michael Robertson, the bold but oft-sued genius behind MP3.com and Linspire, brings the iconic and frequently prosecuted Norwegian media hacker to California for his latest venture. This should be interesting. By Annalee Newitz. [Movies & Music]

Though more than a month old now, I came across this interesting story about Jon Lech Johansen, a Norweigan hacker, or reverse engineer as he usually calls himself. Jon's stock in trade is producing hacks or programs to disable DRM (Digital Rights Management) components included with much of today's commercial media. Like myself, Jon is leary of overzealous copyright protection but he has taken up the fight in a slightly different way. Not only are Jon's actions illegal under US law (and recently, Norway's), but he continues his work flagrantly out in the open.

The second component of this story is Johansen's recent move to the United States. As he said, "In Norway, you have the same laws (as in the United States) now," he says, "so it makes no difference if I'm doing my work here or there." Johansen has taken a job with tech entrepreneur Michael Robertson, who currently operates several online media portals. This partnership offers Jon a financial and legal umbrella under which to practice his reverse engineering.

As is the case with the rebellious and the uncompromising, Jon is easy to admire in principle. He uses his considerable skills to ensure freedom of and free access to, media. I believe though that we must be cautious of too much disregard for the law in the quest for freer media. The persistent illegal file trading community is proof that laws must be adapted and changed, and that is exactly where substantial victory will be found; in the changing of the laws, not their continuous violation. Flagrant and widespread disobediance untempered by an intellgient discourse can lead down a slippery slope of ever harsher laws and punishments, making 'free media' a truly dangerous concept.