Windows Source Code Seller Arrested 275
prostoalex writes "New York Times says William O. Genovese Jr., 27, of Meriden, Conn. has been arrested by the Feds for selling source code for Windows NT and Windows 2000 operating systems. It's not perfectly clear whether Genovese was selling the portion of the code that was leaked earlier this year or if he had access to other portions of Windows source code. The timing, though, coincides, as the code leaked in February, the same month NYT claims the entrepreneur obtained the source code."
Wow. (Score:3, Interesting)
(yes, I'm looking for IT work in Connecticut)
Who can really gain from this code though? (Score:3, Interesting)
Business rivals? (alleged code copying)
Open Source community? (alleged code stealing)
Ridiculous (Score:3, Interesting)
Genovese = known fool (Score:2, Interesting)
That is just what federal authorities did Tuesday, charging Genovese with unlawfully distributing a trade secret, a violation of the Economic Espionage Act, in connection with the alleged sale of a source code for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and the Windows 2000 operating systems.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for New York, Genovese, 27, of 1001 Old Colony Road, Apt. 7-3, Meriden, used his Web site, illmob.org, to sell the source code, which Microsoft learned in February was misappropriated and unlawfully released and distributed over the Internet.
The source code is considered the company's "crown jewels." Unauthorized access to the code can leave the operating systems open to exploitation by computer hackers.
"Microsoft has not authorized the release of this code and any use of it is illegal. As we have said since February, Microsoft will take all appropriate legal actions to protect our intellectual property," a spokesman for the software giant said. "It's illegal for third parties to post, make available to others, or download this code in question and we take such activity very seriously. Microsoft's source code is copyrighted, and it is an infringement to make an unauthorized copy of that code. Moreover, the source code is a trade secret of Microsoft."
The same day Microsoft learned that a significant portion of the code had been released, Genovese posted a message on his Web site announcing that he had a copy of the code and was offering it for sale, according to the complaint.
An investigator hired by Microsoft downloaded a copy of the code in February after submitting a $20 electronic payment to Genovese. In July, an undercover FBI agent also downloaded the code from Genovese after making an electronic payment, the complaint said.
Federal authorities arrested Genovese before 6 a.m. Tuesday. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to say where Genovese was arrested. Genovese faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense. Genovese could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The investigation into the release of the code is ongoing, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Genovese was convicted in March 2003 of eavesdropping and was sentenced to two years probation. That charge stemmed from his gaining unauthorized access to computers in Connecticut in 2000. According to the complaint, Genovese had infected victims' computers with a virus that allowed him to remotely access them, recording their activities, taking control of the machines and sending instant messages to the victims, telling them what he was doing.
The Feds? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Disgusting (Score:3, Interesting)
And I doubt too many people will be forming a lynch mob over Windows source code.
Re:Need Silent Compiler... (Score:2, Interesting)
one bad dude (Score:3, Interesting)
ok...
http://illmob.org/staff.html
that means it's "illwill", self-described "hacking bum". let's see what he claims to have written:
http://illmob.org/releases.html
quite a lot of malicious software he's written there... seems like selling stolen source code fits right in with his ethical standards and moral code.
Re:United States (Score:3, Interesting)