The Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review Archives

This archive details a debate which occurred on March 10, 1995 at the University of Michigan concerning the celebrated Jake Baker case (a student who wrote a violent pornographic work of fiction using the name of a fellow student. The following is a page the MTTLR set up to cover the event.

Incidently, the Baker case, at the trial level, has been published and is available online. Apparently, the government has appealed.

Policing the Internet: Jake Baker and beyond

Friday, March 10 1995

The debate Thursday night went very successfully--drawing an over-capacity crowd to Room 100 of the Law School. The issues raised by the panelists and the questioners were extremely provocative (just the right amount of "fireworks"). We hope you enjoy the transcript; please take a moment to read the journal's editorial policy.


The Transcript

  1. PLEASE READ: Editorial Policy regarding transcript
  2. Opening Statement by Dean Lehman
  3. Introduction by Joan Lowenstein
  4. Scott Charney's Opening Statement
  5. Virginia Rezmierski's Opening Statement
  6. Daniel Weitzner's Opening Statement
  7. Catharine MacKinnon's Opening Statement
  8. Barry Steinhardt's Opening Statement
  9. QUESTION ONE: What is the Department of Justice's position on prosecution of encryption.
  10. QUESTION TWO: Anonyminity, accountability, and the 'Net
  11. QUESTION THREE: How can the Internet be used for empowerment
  12. QUESTION FOUR: Rights for Computer programs?
  13. QUESTION FIVE: How should lawmakers be educated as to current technology?
  14. QUESTION SIX: Is a civil suit pending in the Jake Baker case?
  15. QUESTION SEVEN: Will Federal Law preempt state law in cases involving the Internet?
  16. QUESTION EIGHT: Comment about the Baker affidavit
  17. QUESTION NINE: Why did the University of Michigan choose to respond in this way to the Baker incident?
  18. QUESTION TEN: A question about Catharine MacKinnon's positions on obscenity and pornography
  19. QUESTION ELEVEN: Does pornography drive the 'Net?

If you'd like to know basic information about the event, here is the original press release with more details.


Call for Papers

Please submit responses to the transcript or the panel to Mttlr.edit@umich.edu. Upon editorial approval, we will post responses here.

Panelist Biographies

  • Catharine Mackinnon, University of Michigan Law School, Professor of Law
  • Daniel Weitzner, Center for Democracy and Technology, Deputy Director
  • Scott Charney, Department of Justice, Director of Computer Crimes
  • Barry Steinhardt, American Civil Liberties Union, Associate Director
  • Donald Lively, University of Toledo, Professor of Law
  • Virginia Rezmierski, Information Technology Division, Assistant to the Vice Provost

  • About this Journal


    The Baker Case

    Additional information about the Baker case itself is available at Peter Swanson's Jake Baker page.

    
    
    


    This page is maintained by Andrew Boer, Executive Technology Editor, Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review. Please send feedback (very much wanted) about design, content, or future additions to Aboer@umich.edu