Looking To Explain DeCSS To A Computer Novice?

eric434 writes: "If you are trying to explain the DeCSS issue to your neighborhood or any other relatively computer illiterate person(s), check out the current Scientific American, Cyber View section. They give a very well-written, no-computer-knowledge-required explanation of DeCSS, and what it's for. It appears they have really researched the issue, and the viewpoint presented is not that of the MPAA's. Check it out here. "

Comments

article not enough

[scaryjohn]

The article is very careful to avoid techno-babble but it does so to the extent of marginalizing a lot of the openDVD argument. a lot of the importance to free speech that surrounds this issue is locked up in the technology of it. she was also deceptively cut-and-dried about the disposition of the cases, for example even though preliminary injunction has been granted in CA, the case hasn't been to trial yet. it also doesn't help that they ignored the advent of a legitimate DVD software player. the background with SJG is neat and provides a frame of reference we can relate to.

all the same, you're still better off going to the opendvd homepage.
__

alt.geek