SAN JOSE, CA - On Monday proceedings began for the first trial to test the criminal provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. ElcomSoft Co. Ltd., a software company based in Moscow, faces five counts of violating criminal provision of the law for conspiring, marketing and selling a product that cracks a security device by unencrypting Adobe System Inc.’s eBook reader. No one faces jail time, but the Russian company could face more than $2 million in fines if convicted.

Also at stake is the future of the DMCA, a win by the Northern District of California in this case may unleash similar prosecutions by other U.S. attorneys. Likewise, a defeat could damper further criminal prosecutions under the act.

(via The Recorder)