Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!netnews.upenn.edu!vax1.cc.lehigh.edu!ubu.cc.lehigh.edu!virus-l From: RZOTTO@DKNKURZ1.BITNET (Otto Stolz) Newsgroups: comp.virus Subject: re: Virus writing - crime? Message-ID: <0004.8906021141.AA01036@ubu.CC.Lehigh.EDU> Date: 2 Jun 89 12:16:52 GMT Sender: Virus Discussion List Reply-To: VIRUS-L@IBM1.CC.Lehigh.EDU Lines: 23 Approved: virus-l@ubu.cc.lehigh.edu According to German (FRG) law, its a crime to "alter computer data, willingly and unauthorized". A virus spreads by altering computer data (viz. the program being infected), while it is not authorized to do so. Neither is the virus author, who is responsible for his brainchild's behaviour he has created, willingly. Hence, ... Warning: When you dispatch a virus, you'll be subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years, as soon as your virus spreads to Germany :-) (5 years, if the computer infected is essential to an authority or a company) Let me just get hold of you| In earnest: while I'm not sure, whether this crime will be perceived as commited in Germany, if the virus was written elsewhere, I want to point out, that there are indeed places in the world where EVERY virus is deemed culpable: there's NO distinction between "good" and "evil" virus strains. Best wishes Otto