'Hacking' Treaty (Score 1)

I sent the 'Hacking Treaty' article to Sens. Feinstein and Boxer of California. Feinstein is up for re-election this year and should jump on this right away, especially if the computer community makes enough noise. As to the treaty itself, the US Constitution, Article I, Section 8 grants Congress the power to pass copyright and patent laws to promote Science and the Useful Arts. There is no right to pass a law prohibiting scientific progress. Treaties are an interesting exception under constitutional law, but I don't think that this treaty would normally meet the test. (The present Supreme Court is so Luddite and reactionary that I wouldn't count on them for help.) We can always hope that the Bill of Rights can be invoked - Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Press.