German police seize computer in alleged PDF eBook crack

Web site owner accused of using ElcomSoft product to remove permissions

UPDATED:11 September 2001

By Kurt Foss

Cracked PDF eBook

According to published reports in Germany, police in Munich seized the computer and other peripherals of a Web site owner -- apparently a student -- who allegedly was illegally distributing on the Internet a cracked PDF version of a newly released book. According to the allegations, the PDF file's permission settings had been removed using the "Advanced PDF Password Recovery" program developed and sold by ElcomSoft Co. Ltd., a software company based in Moscow, Russia.

ElcomSoft and one of its employees, Dmitry Sklyarov, are currently facing five indictments each in the U.S. on charges of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). That case involves a different ElcomSoft program, Advanced eBook Processor, that is no longer available for purchase.

Publisher Springer-Verlag, based in Heidelberg, Germany, apparently triggered the search by accusing the site owner of copyright infringement for redistributing a PDF version of "Handbook of Print Media: Technologies and Production Methods," an English-language book by Professor Dr. Helmut Kipphan, head of technology and innovation research at Heidelberg. The book ships with a CD-ROM. A PDF version of the Table of Contents [PDF: 54kb] is available from the Springer Web site. The book "describes the technologies and production methods in the printing industry in a volume of over 1200 pages," according to the Springer online catalog.

Rainer Justke, Head of Rights for Springer-Verlag, confirmed to Planet eBook that "a student infringed the copyright of our work 'Handbook of the Print Media.' We have involved the Department of Public Prosecution, [and the] hard- and software of the student was confiscated by the police."

Springer's Web site provides information about Rights and Permissions.

Analysis of the seized equipment could take up to six weeks before any charges might be brought against the owner.