Jon Johansen

Date of Birth: November 18, 1983

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Biography

Jon Lech Johansen, commonly known as “DVD Jon,” is a Norwegian software developer who gained international fame in 1999 at the age of 15 when he created the DeCSS software that allowed users to decrypt the Content Scramble System (CSS) used on commercial DVD movies. Born on November 18, 1983, in Harstad, Norway, Johansen has been a prominent figure in the field of digital rights management (DRM) and software development. His actions and subsequent legal battles have made him a symbol of the fight for digital freedom and consumer rights. Johansen’s interest in computers began at a young age, and he quickly became skilled in programming. His creation of DeCSS was motivated by a desire to play DVDs on his Linux-based computer, which lacked commercial DVD player software. The release of DeCSS led to a lawsuit in Norway, where Johansen was eventually acquitted. The case drew significant media attention and sparked debates over digital rights and the legality of circumventing DRM. Following his acquittal, Johansen continued to work on various software projects and became involved in the tech industry. He moved to the United States and worked for companies such as DoubleTwist and Mp3tunes. Johansen’s work has had a lasting impact on the tech community, and he remains an advocate for open-source software and digital rights.