DMCA Forces Cox To Censor Changelog?

Ross Vandegrift writes: "Alan Cox released 2.2.20pre10 today, which includes security fixes. He is refusing to indicate what security holes have been fixed, as Unix-style permissions could be used as an anti-circumvention device. The thread starts here. " It'd be great if people could read the threads here and try to figure out what is going on. I'm a little lost, but it looks like he's being overzealous.

Comments

Using the Linux community as pawns

[sting3r]

I really hate to say this about a figure like Alan Cox, whose contributions to the Linux project have been undeniable. But it is obvious that he is using his public role (in the kernel and in usenix) to achieve a political end: namely, the repeal of the DMCA.

Alan needs to realize that, although the DMCA does have important and evil implications for the freedom to code and speak in the U.S., it would not be used against a legitimate programmer such as himself. The people who have been targeted by the DMCA have been crackers: people who defeat lame encryption schemes and distribute point-and-click software that allows the masses to pirate. Although I fully support 2600 and Dmitri in their efforts (I have been a security engineer and I appreciate the truly talented invididuals in the field), DeCSS and the PDF utility are simply not in the same class as the Linux kernel and the other software Cox has worked on. He is simply a non-target and he needs to stop pretending that the DMCA affects him.

-sting3r

Re:Using the Linux community as pawns

[Panaflex]

Sony was selling Betamax VCR's that were intended to allow people to steal video programs. Could be any less ethical? And sony thought that legal loopholes were going to allow them to continue their activities?

It's examples like this that make people think twice before they trust a Jap

Ohh you stupid sniveling AC idiot.

Pan
When most people get home from work, they kick their dog. When I get home, I smack some AC's up.

Re:Cox successful: Senator Fritz Hollings recants!

[hoggoth]

Dear braindead moderator:

<rant>

How the F*#& is a comment about Alan Cox, censored changelogs, Senator Hollings, and DCMA, and the SSSCA ***OFFTOPIC****?!

My joke is a TOPICAL COMMENT. Let me spell it out for you since you are obviously comprehension impaired:

Alan Cox has made a "joke" with his overly dramatic reaction to the censorship caused directly and indirectly by laws such as the DCMA and SSSCA.
This is the TOPIC.

My "joke" facetiously claims that Senator Hollings who has proposed the draconian SSSCA would react to Alan Cox's joke by AGREEING with Alan Cox and withdrawing his proposal.
My point is that the congressmen who are voting on these laws will NEVER SEE Alan Cox's statement.
This is use of sarcasm and irony.

Perhaps my point will amuse some. Perhaps it will motivate others to bring the topic closer to Congress's ears. Perhaps, as in the moderator who thought this was offtopic, some will scratch their heads and go "Huh? Who be dis Senator who I dont be knowing about? Dis am offtopical to wut I be reading."

</rant>