Here's all the source code

In 2000, I wrote a Linux device driver that “decrypted” the output of a certain device, and my company, which hosted open-source projects, agreed to host it.

The “encryption” was only a XOR, but that was enough for the maker of said device to sue my company under 17 U.S.C. § 1201 for hundreds of millions in damages.

The story got a lot of press back then because it highlighted how stupid the then-new DMCA was, and also because there was a David open-source enthusiasts vs. Goliath heartless corporation flavor to it.

Our lawyer decided to pick up the fight to generate free publicity for our fledgling company. For discovery, the maker of the device requested “a copy of any and all potentially infringing source code”. They weren’t specific and they didn’t specify the medium.

So we printed the entire Linux kernel source code including my driver in 5-pt font and sent them the boxes of printouts. Legally they had been served, so there was nothing they could do about it.

CheshireSnake,
@CheshireSnake@iusearchlinux.fyi avatar

So we printed the entire Linux kernel source code including my driver in 5-pt font

Please tell me you used comic sans.

BeigeForce,

Doubly-devilish as it’s not fixed width. Microsoft Bob would be proud.

ExtremeDullard,
@ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

I hope they did. Now that you mention it, it would have been an amusing twist :)

iks,

Printed in wingdings + given ascii conversion table to decypher

TauZero,

The year is 2025. A massive geomagnetic storm has fried all forms of technology, wiping out hard drives and solid-state drives alike, and scrambled all backup tapes. Coincidentally, a new plastic-eating bacterium has munched on all the compact discs without anyone noticing.

Humanity will rebuild…

The computer chip manufacturing pipeline has been restored, but there is no software to run them. In a dusty office previously owned by a lawyer from a long-defunct dotcom, a treasure trove is discovered. Five metal cabinets filled with paper: the printed Linux kernel source code, in 5-pt comic sans font. One brave soul will enter to transcribe. Mistakes are not an option. We all thank you for your sacrifice.

LeFantome,

Final twist, nobody can compile it because it uses GCC extensions that no recovered compiler supports.

ReginaPhalange,

Just out of curiosity…
How many pages were there?

ExtremeDullard,
@ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

I don’t know. I didn’t do the printing. The law firm did it. But I remember our lawyer mentioning that they fedexed over 20 cartons of printing paper. Assuming 500 sheets per ream and 5 reams per carton, that would be 50,000 sheets, or 100,000 pages since it was printed on both sides to be even more annoying.

popekingjoe,
@popekingjoe@lemmy.world avatar

That’s beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Danatronic,

Damn. Did they ever find your actual source code in there

ExtremeDullard,
@ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org avatar

No idea. That company folded before it could even respond. It was a typical dot-com with a completely ridiculous business model. That’s why our lawyer decided to fight the suit: he figured they’d collapse soon anyway, so we might as well milk the lawsuit for the publicity.

Boinketh,

How much did it cost to print?

Wats0ns,

Approximately one forest

HamBrick,

This just made me briefly wish lemmy had awards

HamBrick,

Since Lemmy isn’t pay to win, you get this: 🎖️

FlyingSquid,
@FlyingSquid@lemmy.world avatar

Your lawyer destroyed a forest to comply maliciously. Sort of not the best way to do it IMO.

ngdev,

Na, they’ve got managed forests and it’s fine. Your comment had me google to see and it’s actually pretty interesting.

LeFantome,

As somebody who lives in an area with an active logging industry, I can tell you that parts of the world with an economic interest in their forests still have lots of trees whereas areas that do not are very likely to have destroyed most of theirs.

The relationship between paper use and the environment is not what you think it is.

jxk,

Epic!

BeigeForce,

Please tell me they used bike couriers.

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