Sklyarov returns to hero's welcome

Dmitry Sklyarov, the Russian software programmer arrested last July in Las Vegas for conspiring to sell technology designed to circumvent copyright protections, returned to Moscow this week amid a blaze of publicity.

The 27 year-old was held under controversial US copyright laws after allegedly breaching the new Digital Millennium Copyright Act while demonstrating inherent weaknesses in Adobe's eBook encryption software at the DefCom trade expo.

His arrest led to a number of demonstrations around the world demanding his release, and pressure on Adobe to drop the charges.

Sklyarov was freed in November as part of a 'diversion agreement' whereby he gave over facts to the authorities, but did not admit illegal activity.

However, his company, ElcomSoft, still faces charges and a possible fine of up to £1.55m ($2.25m) if convicted.

Meanwhile, the Russian is celebrating his minor victory over the US authorities. "Someone once said that no single person can win a legal case against the US government," he boasted.