Dmitry Sklyarov isn't free yet, but he's no longer eating prison food. The Russian programmer and anti-copyright poster boy, who probably now wishes he'd never heard of e-books, was released from the clink on Monday after his employers posted $50,000 in bail.
There was some visual drama for reporters: the sight of a programmer in handcuffs and an orange prison jumpsuit. Also, an undetermined number of protesters ("a few dozen," "30," or "50 to 100") rallied outside the courtroom on Monday with signs reading "Don't Make Crypto A Crime" and, of course, "Free Dmitry." "The arrest has made Mr. Sklyarov a bit of a cult figure," said the New York Times of the ado. The San Francisco Chronicle, perhaps a bit weary of protest, put it this way: "Forget freeing Mumia. 'Free Dmitry' is the hip, new rallying cry among Bay Area activists."
Sklyarov was released into the custody of a Russian-born programmer in Cupertino named - proofreaders, start your engines - Serguei Osokine, Sergei Osokine, or Sergei Osoakine. Nor could outlets agree on S.O.'s relationship, if any, to Sklyarov. A Wired News report called him "a local friend," the San Jose Mercury News said he "volunteered to house Sklyarov even though he does not know him," and EFF's executive director told Newsbytes the two have friends in common in Russia. Since the Merc's Elise Ackerman actually talked to what's-his-name, we're inclined to believe her version (and spelling).
Aug. 23 is the date of the pre-trial hearing, and probably the next round of demonstrations, too. It may be a stressful August for "geektivists" and the Sklyarov family, but defense lawyer Joseph Burton says it'll all be fine in the end. "I'm an optimistic kind of guy," Burton told Wired News. "We'll convince them by logic or charm that this is not the right case to bring forward." Geeks and lawyers relying on charm? Readers, fill in your own bad joke.
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