The Ballad of Dima Sklyarov
ver. 1.0beta1 [08/12]
by Alex Fabrikant, Elena Fabrikant, and Victor Piterbarg

[to the tune of Greensleeves (sort of) -- MIDI / sheet in PNG]
[see also lyrics with stress patterns]

N.B.: For all the obvious reasons, this is a work-in-progress. Constructive criticism is
always welcome at alexf@hkn.berkeley.edu. Watch for updates as the story develops.

1
Gather 'round, and let me unveil
Of Dima Sklyarov a timeless tale.
He grew up in Moscow a model lad,
Now a scientist and a dad.

2
In a once-free land beyond the sea,
An evil law was conceived to be;
A group of men with their wallets full
Conspired to purchase this rule.

3
This law was made to seize our right,
Of bringing fools into public light.
It threw science and the arts into disarray,
And was named "the DMCA."

CHORUS
FIGHT, FIGHT for your right to speak,
Without a voice the people're weak.
FIGHT, FIGHT and ne'er forget,
The tale of this terrible threat.

4
So, in that land, a clan of fools
Once tried to sell a broken tool
"Adobe," as they were known by,
Then told many a lie.

5
"Oh yes," they said, "this tool is good,
To writers' tables it brings food.
The wonders of the math inside
Protection from thieves provide."

6
So Dima, our hero, took a look
At the so-called Adobe e-book.
He researched the math those fools had used,
And was thoroughly amused.

7
He spoke up and he told the world,
"This tool protects no one at all,
And also takes our rights away
To books for which we paid."

[CHORUS]

8
So Dima showed he could easily make,
A program that would, for fairness's sake,
Restore the rights that the tool dared steal
And the tool's poor protection reveal.

9
In the country where he did reside
He broke no rule, no law defied.
He proved the tool helped no one
In the standard way this was done.

10
But, unsuspecting and innocent,
He crossed the ocean to present
Results from code that he devised,
And was in for a bitter surprise.

11
Skies must have darkened on the day
When Adobe marked him as their prey;
Adobe complained to the FBI,
Who arrested this innocent guy.

[CHORUS]

12
Across the world a cry arose
From outraged people who exposed
A blameless man in a foreign jail
While at home his children wailed. 

13
Adobe heard of the people's rage
And, afraid for their wallets, they arranged
To withdraw their complaints though the harm was done --
Dima's troubles had now begun.

14
Not yielding to people it represents,
Ignoring withdrawal of all complaints,
The government pressed on with their case,
To freedom of speech a disgrace.

15
Now out on bail, Dima's still not free,
Ten thousand miles from his family,
And the people's cries just might stay ignored
Till they grow to a deafening roar.

[CHORUS]

16
We don't know how this tale will end,
But a lesson's been learned -- we must defend
Our rights against greed's ugly sprawl;
Dima's plight is the plight of all!         (2x)