The anatomy of a fraud

[RJack]

Consider the suit: SOFTWARE FREEDOM CONSERVANCY, INC.
and ERIK ANDERSEN v.BEST BUY CO., INC, et.al.

http://www.worldlawdirect.com/forum/copyright-trademark-patent/32809-copyright-lawsuit-16-companies-sued-software-freedom-
law-center.html

Here are relevant paragraphs from the SFLC-Andersen complaint:

20. Mr. Andersen is the author and developer of the BusyBox
computer program, and the owner of copyrights in that computer
program. BusyBox is a single computer program that comprises a
set of computing tools and optimizes them for computers with
limited resources, such as cell phones, PDAs, and other small,
specialized electronic devices. BusyBox is extremely
customizable, fast, and flexible, and, on information and belief,
is used in countless products sold by many manufacturers all over
the world.

31. Mr. Andersen is, and at all relevant times has been, a
copyright owner under United States copyright law in the FOSS
software program known as BusyBox. See, e.g., “BusyBox,
v.0.60.3.”, Copyright Reg. No. TX0006869051 (10/2/2008).
Plaintiff Software Freedom Conservancy is the corporate home for
the BusyBox project and the designated copyright enforcement
agent for Mr. Andersen with respect to BusyBox.

Here is a link to the source code for BusyBox v.0.60.3:
http://www.xs4all.nl/~lennartb/busybox-0.60.3.tar.bz2

Here is the copyright registration filed by Andersen:

Type of Work: Computer File Registration Number / Date:
TX0006869051 / 2008-10-02 Application Title: BusyBox, v.0.60.3.
Title: BusyBox, v.0.60.3. Description: Print material. Copyright
Claimant: Erik  Andersen, 1971-  . Date of Creation: 2002 Date
of Publication: 2002-04-27 Authorship on Application: Erik
Andersen, 1971- ;  Domicile: United States; Citizenship: United
States. Authorship: New and revised computer source code by Erik
Andersen. Pre-existing Material: Previous version of the program
and computer program code from other sources. Basis of Claim: New
and revised computer source code by Erik Andersen. Copyright
Note: C.O. correspondence. Names: Andersen, Erik, 1971-

Inspection of the relevant facts of record listed above will reveal
that Erik Andersen and the SFLC are promoting a criminal fraudulent
copyright registration. See:

17 USC Sec. 506. Criminal offenses...
(e) False Representation. —
Any person who knowingly makes a false representation
of a material fact in the application for copyright
registration provided for by section 409, or in any
written statement filed in connection with the application,
shall be fined not more than $2,500.

1) The copyright registration clearly claims "BusyBox, v.0.60.3".

2) The Complaint para. 20 clearly states, "Mr. Andersen is the author
and developer of the BusyBox computer program, and the owner of
copyrights in that computer program. BusyBox is a single computer
program".

3) The Complaint para. 31 clearly states, "Mr. Andersen is, and
at all relevant times has been, a copyright owner under United States
copyright law in the FOSS software program known as BusyBox".

4) A cursory examination of the source code files in the tarball
busybox-0.60.3.tar.bz2 reveals multiple authors of the source code
modules.

5) The conclusion that the the copyright registration statement
by Erik Andersen:

"Mr. Andersen is the author and developer of the BusyBox
computer program, and the owner of copyrights in that computer
program."

comprises a knowingly false statement is inescapable.

Sincerely,
RJack