password-cracking by journalists...

[Matt Blaze]

> > "17 USC 1204 (a) In General. - Any person who violates section 1201 or 
> > 1202 willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private 
> > financial gain -(1) shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned 
> > for not more than 5 years, or both, for the first offense..."
> >
> 
> Does this mean that if you are a private researcher, and 
> reverse-engineered something for fun or the challenge, you escape the 
> clutches of this law?

You may be able to escape the *criminal* clutches of this law.
But you might still be sued under 17 USC 1203, which provides for
seriously frightening statutory damages (as well as actual damages).

-matt






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