NOA to Sue for Flash Advance Linkers

Do what? by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-20 04:31 · Score: 4, Insightful

Before stirring up the big crock of readers, you might first explain what the hell a flash advance linker is, and why we should give a damn.

Re:Do what? by JesseL · 2002-02-20 05:33 · Score: 3, Informative

Copyrights cannot be lost by not defending them, only trademarks.

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"Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!"

So wait... by Tebriel · 2002-02-20 04:32 · Score: 4, Interesting

You've got some stock that I assume you legally obtained and post-facto, they want to have the stock turned over to THEM? Shouldn't it be given to customs at least?

And did these units come through customs in the first place? If so, why weren't they held up then????

--
The Blaster Master Fighting for Truth, Justice, and Evil Pie since 1979

Re:So wait... by syzxys · 2002-02-20 04:46 · Score: 5, Interesting

How is the parent post flamebait?

You're right, he shouldn't have to turn the stock over to Nintendo. What the heck do they have to do with it? Are they some kind of governmental body or NGO? I mean, *he bought and paid for the units.*

Originally, there was precedent for banks seizing property if you didn't pay them, because, let's face it, you owed them money. This was similar to your neighbor coming and beating you up because you borrowed his club and didn't give it back. There was also precedent for governmental agencies (e.g. tax collectors) seizing property, for much the same reason.

Then, in the 1800's, the US got into "eminent domain." Basically, this means if the state doesn't agree with how you're using some land/property, they can seize it. But note, now for the first time it wasn't "theirs anyway," they're just flat out taking it.

...take a little step through seizing illegal drugs, etc...

and we wind up in the state we have nowadays, where college dorm rooms are routinely raided for computers. I mean, these are people in *college* for crying out loud! Can they really afford to replace their computers? If the FBI wants to take the warez ("illegal materials") or mp3's, shouldn't they just take the hard drives, give the seizee (I think I just invented a new word) a new equivalent capacity or value hard drive, and *oh* -- make sure to give them a copy of the OS too, since you wouldn't want them pirating Windows, which they will obviously do since you just gave them a new, blank hard drive, and that's how we count pirates! Oh, I forgot, it's the secret po^W^WFBI, and you're a Suspected Criminal, so that means all your base are belong to us! Welcome to the land of the free, biotch!

So obviously, IMO, having *anyone* seizing property because of an *alleged* violation of the DMCA is just way over the top.

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Windows 2000/XP stable? safe? secure? 5 lines of simple C code say otherwise!
Re:So wait... by Mr.+Slippery · 2002-02-20 05:14 · Score: 5, Informative

You're confusing eminent domain with civil forfeiture with evidence seizures.
Eminent domain - "We the state need to knock your house down to make a new road. You are entitled to compensation. We've decided that it's worth $100,000. If you don't like our assessment, there is a lengthy and difficult appeals process." (Not to be confused with the bullshit idea of "takings", where being prevented from raping the land is somehow supposed to be the same as having your deed revoked.)
Civil forfeiture - "We the state think your property has commited a crime. (Yes, not you, your property.) We're taking it. No trial. If you don't like it, you can try to sue us to get it back, and you can guess what the chances of success are." (Not to be confused with any sort of due process, justice, or civilized behavior.)
Evidence seizures - "We the state think you're doing something naughty with this stuff. We're taking it to investigate. Forget about getting it back in any reasonable period of time. If you don't like it...tough shit." (A necessary thing in theory, but highly abused in practice, especially with respect to computer-related crimes.)
This case - "We're not the government. We want your stuff or we'll sue and/or press charges, under a blatantly unconstitutional law we helped buy."

--
Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
You cannot wash away blood with blood

Description by interiot · 2002-02-20 04:34 · Score: 5, Informative

Since the shopping site is low on details, here's TechTV's 7-paragraph description of the product.

Re:Description by interiot · 2002-02-20 04:38 · Score: 3, Interesting

... First, they're not cheap. The drive sells for between $122 and $144. The cartridges are around $100 dollars each, but one 64Mbit Flash cartridge comes with the Flash Linker. Second, the Flash Advance Linker allows you to make legal, although dubiously legal, backup copies of GBA games, so if you buy one, you're slipping into that gray area of copyright protection. Buy at your own risk. ...
Re:Description by GMontag451 · 2002-02-20 09:27 · Score: 4, Insightful

Bullshit. There are a lot of amatuer GBA developers out there that use this kind of hardware to test theirs and others games on a real system instead of an emulator. This is a perfectly legal use of the device that has none of the grayness of making backups.
And besides, how are EULAs for GBAs and GBA games valid anyway? On a computer program, you at least have to click a button that says "Agree". There is nothing I signed or agreed to when I bought and used my GBA or my games, so no contract should apply, just the standard copyright laws.

FYI: The whole letter.... by bucklesl · 2002-02-20 04:34 · Score: 3, Informative

Dear Sam Michaels:

Nintendo of America Inc. (NOA) is providing this letter of notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, USC 17 1201(b) (DMCA) and the US Customs ruling dated December 20, 2001, regarding the import, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker. US Customs confirmed the Flash Advance Linker violates the DMCA and is subject to confiscation.

This notice is addressed to the agent designated by Zophar's Domain to receive notifications of claimed infringements, as reflected in the current records of the U.S. Copyright Office.

NOA has a good faith belief that the internet site found at www.zophar.net infringes Nintendo's intellectual property rights by distributing illegal imports of the Flash Advance Linker in violation of section 1201(b) of the DMCA and subject to seizure under 19 USC 1595a(c)(2)(c) by US Customs.

The e-commerce page offering the Flash Advance Linker for sale was found on your site at:
http://www.zophar.net/store/items.phtml?gba-a cc

Nintendo demands that you immediately cease the importation, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker and turn over your remaining stock to Nintendo.

The Flash Advance Linker appearing on Zophar.net has been identified by its title, description [and/or] depictions of associated artwork. Based on the information at its disposal on February 19, 2002, NOA believes that the statements in this notice are accurate and correctly describe the infringing nature and status of the infringing material.

Should you have any questions, please contact Nintendo of America Inc. at the following address, telephone and fax numbers, and/or e-mail address:

Nintendo of America Inc.
Attn: Anti-Piracy Group
4820 150th Ave. NE
Redmond, WA 98052
Telephone: 425-861-2187
Fax: 425-882-3585
E-mail: Noalegal@noa.nintendo.com

We look forward to working with you to immediately resolve this matter.

Sincerely,

NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

--
help fill in hidden movie endings @ End of the Credits

quick lets jump on the dmca bandwagon by Ogrez · 2002-02-20 04:35 · Score: 3, Insightful

Is it just me or does it seem like every company is suddenly pretending they are bearing the cross of piracy.. How long before you have to buy gamesharks on the black market?? Before your aftermarket controller for your ps2 is infringing on sony's right to sell you their controller.

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Fire in the hands of the village idiot is no tool, but a weapon of mass destruction

Some questions by Rupert · 2002-02-20 04:38 · Score: 3, Informative

Since when did US Customs become an authority on copyright law? Yes, they have a responsibility to prevent the import of items which violate the DMCA, but it's on a case by case basis and always subject to appeal.

What part of the DMCA gives NOA the right to ask for the unsold stock?

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E_NOSIG

Re:Some questions by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-20 05:13 · Score: 3, Informative

The U.S. Customs ruling (available through their
search page if you
search for Flash Advance Linker under the link to
rulings by their HQ) contains their own justification for getting involved, as well as their legal reasoning. The official rationale for having the authority to rule is as follows:

"In the instant case, the question before us deviates somewhat from the more traditional cases involving Customs copyright infringement enforcement in that the subject question involves application of certain provisions of the Digitial Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. 1201) (hereinafter DMCA). That is, Customs here is providing administrative enforcement not on the basis of whether one work is "substantially similar" to another, but rather, on those provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976 that address "circumvention" which the DMCA was promulgated to address. Regardless, the question presented is whether a particular device constitutes an infringement of law under Title 17, U.S. Code."

"The role of Customs in issuing substantive decisions of copyright infringement as to imported merchandise was addressed in The Miss America Organization v. Mattel, Inc., 945 F.2d 536 (2d Cir. 1991). Citing section 603 of the Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. 603), the court recognized Customs authority to enforce the provisions of the law prohibiting importations of infringing goods. Id. at 538."

The four specific allegations Nintendo made against Flash Advance Linker were as follows:

"(1)the floppy disk which is provided as part of the "GB Flash Advance Linker" has no function other than to bypass the "Game Boy Advance" access restrictions, and therefore meets the statutory requirements of 17 U.S.C. 1201(b)(1)(A);"

"(2)the "GB Flash Advance Linker" illegally copies Nintendo's Game Boy Advance video game data from its cartridge format to a flash memory cartridge (Flash 64M RAM card, distributed with the "GB Flash Advance Linker" device, in contravention of 17 U.S.C. 1201(b)(1)(A));"

"(3)the "GB Flash Advance Linker" illegally copies Nintendo's "Game Boy Advance" video game data from its cartridge format directly to a PC hard drive, using the printer port connection of the "GB Flash Advance Linker", from whence it can be uploaded to the internet for unlimited copying, in contravention of 17 U.S.C. 1201(b)(1)(A); and"

"(4)the "GB Flash Advance Linker" is also primarily designed to circumvent technological protections, and has only the most limited commercially significant purpose other than to circumvent protections, in contravention of 17 U.S.C. 1201(b)(1)(B)."

Long story short: US Customs did their own
lab investigation of Flash Advance Linker, agreed that FAL could do what it's advertised as doing, and agreed with all of Nintendo's four points.

I hope this case (or something similar) goes to
court and results in DMCA being ruled unconstitutional. I can't actually disagree with the U.S. Custom folks' decision; it is an entirely rational application of the law as it stands. It's just that the law as it stands is insane.
Re:Some questions by Rogerborg · 2002-02-20 05:13 · Score: 3, Insightful
- Since when did US Customs become an authority on copyright law
Customs officers have a shitty job. They are overworked, underpaid, and they know that any obvious contraband they do stop is only the tip of the iceberg. Luckily for them, they have the authority to cavity search Jesus Christ Himself if they feel like it, and the - de facto - power to seize anything they like and hold it to ransom. This seizure is extra-legal and extra-consitutional, but luckily they live in a gray zone outside of the normal bounds of time and space. Er, law, I mean. Specifically, the goods aren't in the country until they pass customs, so the our feeble human laws do not yet apply to them.
- What part of the DMCA gives NOA the right to ask for the unsold stock
I dunno, how much of it (the DMCA) did they pay for?

Seriously, it's a good question. The DMCA bans import of contravening devices, but that's post facto now, and beyond the (spurious) jurisdiction of the demigods at customs. It also bans the sale or trafficking in the devices. But it doesn't provide a mechanism for seizing them. The current owner can keep them, and curiously enough, can even use them. He just can't give them to anyone else, nor tell anyone how to make one or where to get one. But that's for a court to decide now, not customs, and not Nintendo.

Sigh, time to dig out the addresses of my elected representatives again. Anyone else get the feeling that SSSCA was just a smokescreen to protect the DMCA? Like it turned the debate into "how much further should we go?" when it should be "have we gone too far already?".
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If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.

/. more effective than DMCA? by yawhcihw · 2002-02-20 04:39 · Score: 4, Funny

I have a feeling that the /. effect will shut this guy's store down faster than the DMCA could ever hope to.

Cheaper than going to his ISP and cutting him off there, and certainly cheaper than legal battles

And the DMCA apply's how? by Lokni · 2002-02-20 04:39 · Score: 4, Insightful

Ok, I cannot figure out how the hell the DMCA would apply here. It appears to me that the product allows the download of the data off of the cartridges and onto the computer, as well as the upload of data from the computer to the GBA. It would seem to me that if that were illegal computer CD players and CDRW burners would be illegal as well as they allow COPYRIGHTED data to be transfered to a computer, and then through use of a burner transfered from the computer onto the media. Somebody should hand the NintenDUH people a cluestick.

Re:And the DMCA apply's how? by Apreche · 2002-02-20 05:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

The only copy protection that a GBA has is it's proprietary cartridge format. There really isn't any copy protection besides the fact that the only device available on the market that works with these cartridges is a GBA, until now.
Just like the GameCube, there is no chip in a GameCube that prevents you from using burned discs, because nobody has the ability to read, or write those little DVDs. You can play Japanese Gamecube Games in US Gamecubes and vice versa, the same goes for all Gameboys. Australian Gameboys for some reason do not play foreign games.
There really is no copy protection, so I don't think the DMCA applies. However I DO think that another law concerning the fact that Nintendo has a patent/copyright on the GBA cartridge format might make another law applicable.

--
The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!

proof of legitimate use by BlueboyX · 2002-02-20 04:41 · Score: 3, Interesting

Well, there were two gameboy advance competitions. One was on www.gbadev.org - go take a look.Obviously quite a few people are using these for purposes other than pirating.

--
"Never, never suspect the dreams within the dreams of dreaming children." ~The Amazon Quartet

Here's the info. by TheSHAD0W · 2002-02-20 04:43 · Score: 4, Informative

http://www.visoly.com/fa_linker.php

The Flash Advance Linker is the first professionial mass produced development device for the Gameboy(TM) Advance.

Just like a Cradle for your Palm or other Handheld Computer, the GBA Flash Advance Linker is plugged in to the printer port of your PC. Once connected, it can simply send and receive game ROM data from or to the plugged in game or Flash Cartridge.

Reading out game ROM data (dumping):
Once your original GBA game has been plugged in to the Flash Advance Linker, you can use the provided software to read out the rom data and save it to your local PC harddrive as a so-called ROM file. The Flash Advance Linker also lets you read out the savegame to store it in an extra file - you won't use any game data, e.g. when the battery in your original GBA game gets empty.

Sending ROM files to your empty cartridge (Flash Advance 64/128/256M):
Simply use the provided software to open the ROM file from your harddrive, it will then send the data through the printer port to the Flash Advance Linker, which will store the data in the Cartridge - just as when you connect your MP3 Player to your PC to 'fill' it with songs. Totally easy!

***

Yup, this can be used to pirate games. It can also be used to back them up, too... But hey, the DMCA doesn't care about that.

I'll do it... by brogdon · 2002-02-20 04:45 · Score: 3, Insightful

IANAL, but it seems like the arguement is pretty simple to me. This device lets you pull games off of carts and put games onto carts, right? This case should be pretty easy.

Just bring up video editing stations. They're perfectly legal, right? What do they allow you to do? You can pull video off a tape, DAT or DVD, and put video onto a tape, DAT or DVD. You need to do this in order to do your job as a video content producer. You can't do your job without this equipment. If the government were to make it illegal, you'd be screwed. Since video editing equipment is still legal, thus the standard is set.

Back to the Flash thingy. GBA programmers cannot do their job without a device to put code onto the carts and get it back off them, nor can they sell their product without a means to get the programs to people.

All you have to do to win is argue that this standard has already been set in the courts with the video equipment, a precedent therefore exists, and to top it off a bunch of small businesses (which America is supposed to adore) would be obliterated without this equipment they need to perform their legitimate occupations. Seems pretty easy to me.

Call me if you want me to argue the case.

--

This tagline is umop apisdn.

How does the flash advance work? by werdna · 2002-02-20 04:45 · Score: 5, Insightful

If it is merely a flash memory, how, exactly is it circumventing an encryption scheme? Obviously something is going on there, else we would be unlikely to see the Verisign logo so prominently displayed at the web site. If anybody knows what is going on there, I'd be most interested.

As to "pro bono" attorneys, why would you ever need to rely on that? You're just the buyer of a vendor's accused product. As the buyer of goods under the Uniform Commercial Code, you generally receive them subject to an implied warranty against infringement. Ordinarily, even if the warranty is expressly disclaimed, purchase orders still provide for indemnification of IP claims. Why not call the vendor and ask them why their "for a buck" lawyer isn't protecting you for free? You might also ask your insurance company if you have any coverage under you general umbrella, either for advertising injury or otherwise.

Of course, this isn't legal advise one way or the other. There aren't sufficient facts presented to indicate whether or not you would be liable, not liable for the demand or have, not have a claim for contribution from your vendors or distributors. It would make sense, and you really, really have to do this now, to have a lawyer at least look at the coverage questions.

Re:How does the flash advance work? by ahde · 2002-02-20 05:02 · Score: 3, Insightful

the proprietary arrangement of pins (probably patented) on the cartridge interface can easily be considered copyright protection mechanism, or even an encryption scheme. Counting them (and of course using a voltmeter to find out which is which) is obviously a circumvention technique.

I'm sure glad there are more than ten pins, or else we'd all have to get our fingers chopped off as anticircumvention devices.

Re:you know... by MindStalker · 2002-02-20 04:47 · Score: 3, Interesting

The DMCA refers to the breaking of encryption, I don't believe it has any revelance on a device that helps you copy non encrypted data?

It'd be nice to see this one go to trial. by Xentax · 2002-02-20 04:48 · Score: 4, Interesting

As far as I can tell, this is a good candidate for an interesting trial:

1) It CAN be used to copy games illegally. I don't think anyone will disagree.

2) It CAN be used to _legally_ copy games, or save data. Nintendo might try to disagree with this being legal, but I don't think they can convince anyone of that in a courtroom.

So, it has both uses that are legal, and those that infringe on copyright.

It's been awhile since I read the DMCA, so I'm not sure which particular provision selling this device is supposed to be violating. I'm guessing it's the sale/distribution of a copy-protection-circumvention device.

The hardware angle would be silly, so it must be that they claim copying their ROMs is the violation. Are GBA ROMs encrypted, or otherwise proof from copying beyond their storage on a chip in a funky plastic case?

Bottom line, I think these people could mount a fairly strong challenge to at least the lawsuit, and possibly take the route of the DMCA being unconstitutional: It's being used to make a _fair use_ under copyright -- space/time shifting of user data -- illegal.

Xentax

--
You shouldn't verb words.

There's only one flaw... by Uttles · 2002-02-20 04:49 · Score: 3, Insightful

VHS, DVD, and the like are standards. Nintendo cartridges are not. The content of VHS tapes is protected, but not the actual device. In the case of the Nintendo cartridge, the entire thing is protected by copyright. This means that the precedent does not apply.

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~ now you know

Re:There's only one flaw... by arkanes · 2002-02-20 05:28 · Score: 3, Interesting

*bzzzt* copyright doesn't protect the design of the cartridge, only the content. The claim, I suppose, will be that the form factor of the cartridge is sufficent "access control" under the DMCA, but whether or not it's a "standard" has no bearing whatsoever.

Why Nintendo went after them (READ) by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-20 04:50 · Score: 5, Informative

This was nothing more then a form letter from NOA legal, for this reason. Some guy at www.cultchydren.com e-mailed NOA with the following(a cut and paste from their site, I don't want to give them any traffic)

Subj: Sales of illegal copier units
Date: 2/12/02 6:58:47 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: cultchyldren@aol.com
To: piracyscene@noa.nintendo.com
Dear NOA Legal:
During my searches to find LEGAL NOA distributers and local stores, I stumbled onto a very disturbing piracy site. It can be found at: http://www.zophar.net/. It is a site that has illegal emulators on it, but the most disturbing part is that they use the illegal emulators to draw in people to buy illegal copier units for the Gameboy Advance system.
I thought that I should inform you that people were making dishonest money from your products, and should be looked into quickly. These people should be shown that stealing is wrong. If you need a direct url to the problem, it can be found at: http://www.zophar.net/store/items.phtml?gba-acc

The guys from the site have a grudge against zophar.net that goes back years, not getting into it.

But I just wanted to clear up that this isn't just NOA laying down the law for no reason. This is just a form letter, a response to the e-mail that was sent to them above.

"Any pro bono lawyers out there?" by Sudderth · 2002-02-20 04:51 · Score: 3, Insightful

Why am I suddenly reminded of Homer Simpson looking skyward and saying, "I'm not usually a praying man, but if you can hear me, save me, Superman!"

Even if the EFF or another advocacy group is in a position to swoop down from the sky and help take your case, this is a major international corporation you're dealing with, and a broadly written law (the DMCA) that has many constitutional questions surrounding it. You will likely need to spend the money on a good attorney to represent you if you intend to fight this.

US Customs and how it most likely made it through by bdavenport · 2002-02-20 04:54 · Score: 4, Insightful

And did these units come through customs in the first place? If so, why weren't they held up then????

usually when items liked this are shipped, they are marked in a way so that customs doesn't stop them. i have seen them shipped marked as "gift" with a value of "under $30 USD". coming from Hong Kong you can get an item in less than 10 business days in this manner.

it is a constant discussion around our office when someone's linker for their GBA arrives: how does US Customs know what is inside is not drugs, kiddie pr0n, etc?? we don't know. all we know is marking it in the above fashion seems to work.

no idea if the guy in this story got his sent marked as such, but i would bet he did.

--
/* Half alive and half dead too, work is for suckers and the sucker is you. - "Half-life" by Local H*/

Exactly how does this violate DMCA by I_redwolf · 2002-02-20 04:54 · Score: 4, Insightful

There is no reverse engineering going on here. Everything regarding the technical know how to do this is available from Nintendo themselves. SamMichaels is it? Tell Nintendo to take the DMCA and shove it up their ass. While you're at it send them a flash linker and tell them to make you a deal you can't refuse. Otherwise; tough shit for them. All of this could of been avoided with a simple, we'll buy all the flash linkers you have and pay you not to make any for the next 5 yrs. Maybe they could of thought of something like this first, but when you are late to the market don't pull this DMCA shit outta your ass Nintendo. We know what it is, we don't like it and we don't like big companies thinking they can do whatever they want flashing the DMCA in everyones face when it doesn't apply; especially when it's something you should of thought of yourself and now wanna knock the small guy down so you can then make money off his idea. Fuck you; I feel like returning my Gamecube and denouncing up down up down left right left right a b start.

Re:Well what did you expect? by oddjob · 2002-02-20 04:56 · Score: 5, Insightful

You, and the DMCA, are confounding the concepts of a crime and a tool that may be used to commit a crime. Tools should not, and generally are not, outlawed simply because they could be used to commit crimes. I could use a gun to rob a bank -- should guns be outlawed? I could use a crowbar to rob a house -- should crowbars be outlawed? I could use a pillow to smother a grandmother -- should pillows be outlawed?

Can customs make that judgement? by cballowe · 2002-02-20 04:56 · Score: 3, Interesting

Nintendo of America Inc. (NOA) is providing this letter of notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, USC 17 1201(b) (DMCA) and the US Customs ruling dated December 20, 2001, regarding the import, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker. US Customs confirmed the Flash Advance Linker violates the DMCA and is subject to confiscation.

I didn't know that US Customs was a body capable of ruling on whether a product violates the DMCA. Once something is determined to violate the DMCA, it would make sense that they could confiscate it but they are an enforcement organization.

From all descriptions I've read (not that many) the primary purpose of this device is to copy GBA roms to catridges that can be played on the GBA. All marketing I can find markets it as a development tool. I don't see how it meets the ``primarily designed for...'' requirements.

Then again, IANAL

I can tell you why NOA cares about this by LordZardoz · 2002-02-20 04:59 · Score: 5, Insightful

While it is possible to use such devices to develop games, that is not the intended market for this product. This product is probably used to copy commercial games onto secondary media. In and of its self, Nintendo would not care too much. However, because anyone can buy it online, it makes casual piracy too easy. People can use this tool to buy a game, burn it, and return it. Or they can simply find the ROM online, and not even purchase it.

Emulators are not too much of a threat to a console. The games simply suck badly when played on a Keyboard, and PC controllers just dont feel right. But this allows you to play these games on a GBA. This is a direct threat to what is currently Nintendo's most consistent source of income. So of course they will go after it and try to kill it.

END COMMUNICATION

Re:I can tell you why NOA cares about this by startled · 2002-02-20 07:22 · Score: 5, Informative

"While it is possible to use such devices to develop games, that is not the intended market for this product."

Did they tell you this personally, or are you just pulling it out of thin air? Because they must have fucked up their marketing message with me. I've been using it to dev on for several months now, and I have never once put a commercial ROM on it. Where did I find out about it? From a promotion on a GBA development site, where they give a commission to the guy running the site if you buy one.

So how is GBA development not the intended market for the product, given the fact that they advertise heavily on all of the GBA amateur dev sites I visit?

you guys are forgetting the point fo the DMCA by eclectric · 2002-02-20 04:59 · Score: 3, Interesting

Mainly, that it *takes away* the previously established right to make a single copy for backup purposes. It clearly states that circumventing copy protection is grounds to be in violation of the DMCA. And don't blather on about constitutionality... the right to make a single backup for archive purposes is only spelled out in the 1971 Copyright Act.

Granted, I don't agree with the DMCA, but this device is *very clearly* a violation of it. It's not that it's *used* to make copies of protected material, but that it's *designed* to make copies of protected materials.

Re:you guys are forgetting the point fo the DMCA by kenthorvath · 2002-02-20 06:51 · Score: 3, Informative

How is the GBA cartridge protected? Is it the fact that it is stored on a non-standard media type? I'm not sure that qualifies as protected. Protected is what happens as a result of heavy encryption and password protection and hardware security checkpoints (like bad block addressing in PS games, laserlok, etc...). Go to megagames.com to find out about "protected". This is just a backup tool for legitamately purchased software. Our rights are "protected".

Going after the little guy. by hoofie · 2002-02-20 05:01 · Score: 3, Insightful

Its very simple - Nintendo are going after the little guy.
Here is the DNS for the manufacturers web site :
Visoly
Henry Lo
Shop 64, G/F, 148 - 152 Fuk Wah Street, Shum Shui Po
Hong Kong, Kowloon -
HK
Phone: +852 23785236
Fax..: +852 23785237
Email: webmaster@visoly.com

I presume its harder to go after the HK connection, so shut down any US marketing and distribution for the product first. A cheap form lawyers letter might get you some results

I would suggest the recipient gets some quick PROPER legal advice first - THEN decides on his response

DMCA section 1201(b) by Sharkeys-Day · 2002-02-20 05:01 · Score: 4, Informative

(b) ADDITIONAL VIOLATIONS- (1) No person shall manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part thereof, that--

(A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof;

(B) has only limited commercially significant purpose or use other than to circumvent protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof; or

(C) is marketed by that person or another acting in concert with that person with that person's knowledge for use in circumventing protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof.

(IANAL) www.visoly.com markets the device as a means for independant game developers to produce their own cartridges. Unless you or someone you know is marketing it as a game copier, NOA would have to prove that independant game developers are a "limited commercially significant purpose", or that visoly is cooperating with someone who is marketing the device as a game copier.

Re:DMCA section 1201(b) by Anonymous Coward · 2002-02-20 05:25 · Score: 4, Insightful

> (A) is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing protection afforded by a technological measure that effectively protects a right of a
> copyright owner under this title in a work or a portion thereof;

Mmm... if you circumvented it, how does it "effectively protect" anything?
Re:DMCA section 1201(b) by ryanwright · 2002-02-20 06:47 · Score: 3, Insightful

I dunno, I could be talking out my ass here, but doesn't Nintendo require a royalty for every game anyone makes?

That's impossible. "You're not allowed to make a game that runs on our hardware?" WTF? It's not THEIR hardware. When you buy it, it's YOUR hardware, and you can do whatever you damn well please with it. If you want to make a game, there's not a damn thing they can do about it.

Now, mass producing and selling your game in a store, there might be something there. Perhaps they have a copyright on the cartridge design, or something like that. But making your own game for your own use, I don't see how they can prevent you from doing that...

--
-Ryan, with the unoriginal sig

Errors by Sloppy · 2002-02-20 05:02 · Score: 3, Interesting

Their letter doesn't explain what "technological measure" your product circumvents. After reading a description of the product, I am sceptical that there is any technological measure at all, so this doesn't look like a violation of 1201(b). At the end of the letter, they ask you to contact them if you have questions. It might be useful to get their clarification on what "technological measure" has been circumvented.

They also use the word "infringe" which implies that in addition to a DMCA violation, there is also a copyright infringement. But the letter doesn't explain. It sounds like Nintendo lawyers are making things up as they go along.

...the US Customs ruling dated December 20, 2001, regarding the import, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker. US Customs confirmed the Flash Advance Linker violates the DMCA and is subject to confiscation.

This isn't US Customs' job. If US Customs is spending my tax money hiring lawyers to research things on behalf of private corporations such as Nintendo, then I want my tax money back.

--
As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.

Want to arrest me for rape? by CharlezManning · 2002-02-20 05:03 · Score: 5, Funny

I've sure got the equipment!

Surely there must be a distinction between owning equipment that has the potential to be used for copyright infringement and actually using it for illegal purposes. CD burners, floppy drives etc are legal so I can't see why this product can't be legal too.

Unfortunately I don't think it's going to be a case of who's right and who's wrong but rather Nintendo has a bigger legal budget than ZD.

Re:Want to arrest me for rape? by monkeydo · 2002-02-20 05:28 · Score: 5, Informative

The term you are groping for is "Substancial non-infringing uses"
CD burners, floppy drives, VCRs cassette tapes, photo copiers, etc. have substancial non-infringing uses. Nintendo will argue that this product does not.

--
Si vis pacem, para bellum
The only thing more annoying than a Libertarian is an (un|mis)informed Libertarian
Re:Want to arrest me for rape? by studerby · 2002-02-20 08:55 · Score: 3, Interesting

"computer program" is defined in the copyright law as:

A "computer program" is a set of statements or instructions to be used directly or indirectly in a computer in order to bring about a certain result.

They don't define "computer" in the law though. Since a game console is a computer in fact, you'd have a pretty good shot at convincing a judge...

--
.sig generation error:468(3)

Re:you know... by EllisDees · 2002-02-20 05:03 · Score: 3, Interesting

Incorrect, DMCA refers to circumventing a protective device

Ok, so what 'protective device' is there on a gameboy that is supposedly being circumvented?

--
-- Give me ambiguity or give me something else!

Nintendio has a good case. by NanoGator · 2002-02-20 05:03 · Score: 3, Insightful

Look on the lower left of this site:

http://www.visoly.com/

This is the developer's site of the product in question, and right on the same page it links to a page on various Nintendo Emulators. Anything that could have implied "developer's tool" flew out the window just by having that link there. It'll be really tough for them to prove it's not a device intended for piracy.

There *is* a legal product out there for uninitiated developers out there. Check out this page:

http://www.mp3games.net/demo.htm

Basically, this is a product you can buy at Software Etc that allows you to write programs for the GBA and download them into a little cartridge. This device claims it won't play 'copyrighted games'. Once you write apps for the GBA, you can trade them on the net etc. To the best of my knowledge, it's still for sale. I don't think Nintendo is fighting this one because it's clearly a developer's device.

I'm against the DMCA, I think it's poorly executed. I've been very vocal about that here. But this is a case where I think Nintendo is in the right. If this product did have legit uses, it was VERY BONEHEADED to link to an emulator's site on the product page. I'm with Nintendo on this one.

--
"Derp de derp."

Re:Well what did you expect? by aiken_d · 2002-02-20 05:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

Um, so CD burners should be illegal because they can make exact duplicates of the original? How about CD copying software? How about blank CD's? For fsck's sake, man, how about computers in general? Heck, every time I boot, I'm reading copyrighted Microsoft (sorry, but it's true) material into my system's memory, goddamit!

Do you really believe the Sony/Nintendo/RIAA theory that anything that could possibly be used in an illegal manner should itself be illegal? I'm really curious. From Pentium processers to bleach, I'll bet I can find an illegal use for just about anything. Under this line of reasoning, rocks would be illegal because you could bang someone over the head with them. And don't try to claim "that's different", unless you're willing to argue that copyright violation is so much worse than murder that it merits much more legislative and judicial intervention in peoples' daily lives.

Bottom line: we're dangerously close to living in a system where intellectual property laws and cases operate on a presumption of guilt. That's just messed up.

Cheers
-b

--
If I wanted a sig I would have filled in that stupid box.

"Any pro bono lawyers out there?" by geekoid · 2002-02-20 05:05 · Score: 5, Informative

Most law firms do handls a certian amount of pro-bono per year. You might have to call them your self and ask.
of course the first place to start is the eff. If nothing else, they might be able to point you in the right direction.

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect

The future of free culture is at stake. by MenTaLguY · 2002-02-20 05:05 · Score: 3, Insightful

It seems to me that this is an instance of a more general problem -- all software and equipment which end-users can use to create/distribute their own media (music/video/games/whatever) can also be used to create/distribute unauthorized copies of "mainstream" media.

And, in fact, that is indeed invariably their primary use. Artists/writers/programmers are always going to be a minority.

These things are increasingly being legislated and prosecuted accordingly. Independent content/media/software creators are going to get very screwed, and our cultural development will be ceded entirely to corporations.

While this might not be the primary intended effect, I'm sure the aforementioned conglomerates don't really mind it as a side-effect.
The only defense I can see is to create a body of "libre" independent content that most people will actually care about, so there would be some outcry when it was threatened. "mainline" indy media is unfortunately too esoteric most of the time.

That would, however, most likely require a source of patronage outside the media conglomerates. I don't see e.g. an animated feature being assembled in the same way as the Linux kernel.

--

DNA just wants to be free...

Re:FYI: The whole letter.... by nanojath · 2002-02-20 05:06 · Score: 4, Interesting

A few relevant resources -

http://www.hrrc.org/html/DMCA-leg-hist.html

DMCA history website.

http://www.loc.gov/copyright/

US Copyright office.

http://www.loc.gov/copyright/legislation/dmca.pd f

DMCA summary & analysis

Section 1201 of the DMCA is basically the anticircumvention stuff. It makes a distinction between devices that allow illegal access to copyrighted material and devices that make illegal copies of copyrighted material. The legal question here is, is this doodad a circumvention device? Does it illegally circumvent some encryption of the ROM data on the GBA cart? If not then it's an issue of, is this a fair use case of copying?

--

It Is the Nature of Information to Transgress Artificial Boundaries

I have a Game Boy Advance flash linker here... by markh1967 · 2002-02-20 05:06 · Score: 5, Informative

...and I use it legitimately. There's a GNU GBA C compiler and tools available and it's fun to develop simple games for it. Of course I can't sell anything I produce, but the amateur GBA developer scene is very active and I can't see how it harms Nintendo in any way. Quite the opposite in fact; I wouldn't have bought a GBA if I couldn't program it. Checkout http://www.gbadev.org for more about the GBA amateur developer scene.
While the flash linker can be used for piracy, this case is exactly the same as the one reported here earlier about the Dreamcast-PC serial cable. Just because it could be used for piracy doesn't mean it is.
Having said all that, I can see why Nintendo are going after this kit - GBA roms are easy to find on the net and are small enough that even the slowest modem connection can download them.
Nintendo are very different from companies like Sony and Microsoft in that they keep tight control of the content of any software developed for their hardware through draconian licences. They see their consoles as being aimed primarily at younger children and try to discourage development of 'adult' titles. Sites like http://foon.pocketheaven.com/ that carry unlicenced software weaken their position so, while being legal, their position is precarious. As a flash linker is required to get the software from unlicenced developers onto the GBA, it's no surprise that this is where Nintendo's attack lawyers would concentrate their efforts. The DMCA just makes them an even more tempting target.
--
Input error. Replace user and press any key to continue.

--
Input error. Replace user and press any key to continue.

Just like DeCSS? by Tenebrious1 · 2002-02-20 05:20 · Score: 3, Informative

The case against DeCSS succeeded because MPAA convinced the judge that the possibility of piracy and the potential loss of revenue was more important than the rights of the small community who wanted to use the software legally. Is this any different?

Nintendo will claim the DeCSS case as a precedent, saying it allows people to pirate their games. The users will claim it's fair use. Who's going to win?

Nintendo.

--
-- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.

Re:Well what did you expect? by oddjob · 2002-02-20 05:21 · Score: 5, Insightful

That presumes that copying the game is always illegal. If I buy any material protected by copywrite, it is perfectly legal for me to make as many copies as I wish for my own personal use. That applies to books, films, or whatever. I can make backup copies, copies to use in different locations, even copies to line my parrots cage if I wish. The backers of the DCMA want to take that legal right away. They were not able to do so directly, so they went after the tools.

Re:Well what did you expect? by Rogerborg · 2002-02-20 05:22 · Score: 3, Interesting

every time I boot, I'm reading copyrighted Microsoft (sorry, but it's true) material into my system's memory, goddamit

There's a specific exemption in the DMCA for transient memory copies necessary to produce functionality. It's not pertinent to the case in hand, I just thought I'd mention it.

Do you really believe the Sony/Nintendo/RIAA theory that anything that could possibly be used in an illegal manner should itself be illegal

Unfortunately, in this case Nintendo are just following the law as written (apart from trying to sieze the goods). They actually have a duty to their shareholders to do this. The problem is with the dumb law and the corrupt politicians that passed it, not the predatory people using it to their advantage, or the businesses who bought those politicians.

Let's stay focussed on the issue, which is to tell (not ask, tell) our elected representatives to repeal the law. The courts are a gamble, the predactory companies are a certainty. Fix the cause, not the symptoms.

--
If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.

Emulators and development. by Croaker · 2002-02-20 05:25 · Score: 3, Informative

Linking to an emulator site in and of itself isn't grounds for considering this thing to be a piracy device. You could point to other emulators used in the development of software for handhelds for an example. The POSE emulator, which emulates the Palm platform, was actually embraced by Palm and promoted as a way to easily develop software for the platform without having to go through the trouble of downloading to a deveice. Considering, from a description of this device, that it takes several minutes to download a ROM to the Gameboy, it seems logical that a developer would want ot use the quick turnaround of using an emulator instead. I expect that Nintendo's (and whoever else makes games for the platform) engineers use emulators extensively while developing new products.

That being said, the people selling this thing are probably still screwed, since it's likely Nintendo can claim that somewhere in their product is some obfuscation (like an undocumented pinout on the cartridges) that qualifies as a copy protection method that this unit circumvents. As you say, the law sucks, but it's still a law until struck down or repealed.

We need a legal opinion here.... by John+Murdoch · 2002-02-20 05:26 · Score: 3, Informative

Okay--we need to hear from /. readers who actually ARE lawyers. In particular, we need to hear from geek lawyers who are familiar with federal regulations, how they are formulated, and what is the precise legal meaning of "ruling."

This letter from Nintendo is a threat. Find a small business, threaten them with the wrath of God, watch them roll over. But--the threat has to be credible. The premise of the threat from Nintendo is contained in the second paragraph of the letter:

Nintendo of America Inc. (NOA) is providing this letter of notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, USC 17 1201(b) (DMCA) and the US Customs ruling dated December 20, 2001, regarding the import, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker. US Customs confirmed the Flash Advance Linker violates the DMCA and is subject to confiscation. (Emphasis mine)

The key question here is, what ruling was made by the U.S. Customs Service on December 20, 2001? Was this a ruling in a judicial proceeding? If so, does the U.S. Customs Service have the ability to conduct judicial proceedings that are binding on other jurisdictions? (I seem to recall that Admiralty courts in the U.S. are conducted by the U.S. Customs Service. But the DMCA and its application to a game cartridge emulator would seem to be outside the purview of an Admiralty court.)

Or was the "ruling" akin to the "private letter rulings" issued by the Internal Revenue Service, which are used to advise tax professionals of the IRS's view of the legality of a given strategy or vehicle. In other words, did Nintendo of America go to a U.S. Customs Service office, present some documentation asserting that the Flash Advance Linker could be used to illegally copy Gameboy cartridges, and thus (they argued) it violates the DMCA. If it is the latter, I would think the threat from Nintendo carries a lot less force--they got somebody to agree with their view of the situation. That's not the same thing as having as precendent a settled issue of law. (For contrast: if you get a letter from the local Temperance Union insisting that you cease and desist from the manufacture, transportation, distribution, and/or sale of beer--because you're in a "dry" county--you're in a different fight. Temperance rules may seem silly, but they're a settled legal issue.)

If the DMCA is to be challenged, these guys need help
A common legal tactic is to establish a court precendent someplace, and then extend that precendent across the country. I learned this the hard way, early in my career, when the Internal Revenue Service decided to make an example of my employer at the time (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 743 F.2d 148 (3rd Cir. 1984).). We won--but only because of substantial financial and legal support from other (larger) publishing houses that stood to be hurt down the road. Almost twenty years ago I was hustling contributions to a legal defense fund of more than $50K--today it would require much, much more than that.

There is an alternative...
You generally cannot intervene in a private lawsuit. And Nintendo is almost certainly assuming that this store isn't going to go all the way to court over this. But you can ask your Congressman to "look into this" and report back to you on the merit of foreign software corporations using the DMCA to prevent U.S. software developers from writing software for a popular computing platform. With enough publicity, and enough questions from Congress, Nintendo might be persuaded to back off.

Re:Well what did you expect? by Angst+Badger · 2002-02-20 05:28 · Score: 3, Funny

Under this line of reasoning, rocks would be illegal because you could bang someone over the head with them.

This is, of course, completely off-topic and therefore likely to be modded down, but I had a roommate once who watched the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the news for years before issuing this classic boner:

"Damn, the Israelis would have a lot less trouble with the Palestinians if they would just clean up all the loose rocks lying around town."

--
Proud member of the Weirdo-American community.

This is not a patent issue. by Lonath · 2002-02-20 05:37 · Score: 3, Funny

/. clearly needs a new symbol. Call it the "!Freedom" department.

The picture would be a copy of the Constitution with a pile of shit on top of it, just below someone wiping his ass with hundred dollar bills.

--
Best. Comment. Ever. Enjoy!

Re:SamMicheals, what will you do? by NumberSyx · 2002-02-20 05:46 · Score: 5, Insightful

he's just going to ignore them for now.

He should not do this, this will only make the courts mad, because he is spitting in the face of the law. Instead, he should get a Lawyer to write a nice polite letter stating first, Nintendo has no right to demand nor confiscate the devices, only the Federal government can do so with the proper court order. Second, the devices are legal because they have at least one legal use, ie making legal backup copies of games, which is allowed under "Fair Use". The DMCA does not specificaly eliminate "Fair Use" (I could be wrong, maybe, it does specificaly eliminate "Fair Use"). This also provides Researchers a method of discovering new uses for the product, because new uses may have a greater benifit. Because this has not happened yet does not mean it is not possible, attempting to enforce the DMCA in this manner stifles creativity and inovation. Recently the RIAA has backed down from a similar case stating it was not the intent of the RIAA nor the DMCA to suppress research nor stifle inovation. The Research part of this maybe a stretch, but a good Lawyer could make it work.

--

"Our products just aren't engineered for security,"
-Brian Valentine,VP in charge of MS Windows Development

Remember, it's just a letter... by StevenMaurer · 2002-02-20 05:56 · Score: 5, Informative

Dear Mr Michaels,

Get a grip. This is just a letter. Letters cost about a dollar to reproduce and send. They are typically used as intimidation techniques by lawyers when they know they don't have a legal leg to stand on.

If they file, then it means they're a bit more serious, but not much. Again, these filing is cheap, and often gets people to do what lawyers want even though they really don't have the legal right to demand it.

This is what you should do. Send them back a nice letter stating that the DCMA doesn't apply because these devices are not being used "solely for copyright circumvention" - they are being used for hobby gaming. This does two things. First, it states your legal position; they cannot claim you ignored the letter. Second, and more importantly, you are signal your willingness to actually fight this bullshit.

Believe me when I say that Corporate lawyers strongly recommend against suing a "little guy" on anything but a clear-cut case. Even if they win, it can do havok with their P.R., and it will cost them way way more money to pursue than they ever could recover.

Remember, because this isn't a contractual issue so there is no "looser pays in a legal dispute" clause to deal with. If they actually seriously pursue litigation, they're on the hook for their own legal fees, which makes it not worth it even if they do win.

Disclaimer - I am Not a Lawyer; however, I have used their services from time to time.

Re:FYI: The whole letter - this bit confuses me by Glorat · 2002-02-20 06:13 · Score: 4, Funny

"distributing illegal imports of the Flash Advance Linker ... and subject to seizure under 19 USC 1595a(c)(2)(c) by US Customs."

Nintendo demands that you ... turn over your remaining stock to Nintendo.

What? Has Nintendo suddenly become part of US customs?!

Re: Illegal use of NOA property by freeweed · 2002-02-20 07:12 · Score: 3, Funny

Dear Win-Developer:

Nintendo of America Inc. (NOA) is providing this letter of notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, USC 17 1201(b) (DMCA) and the US Customs ruling dated December 20, 2001, regarding the import, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker. US Customs confirmed the Flash Advance Linker violates the DMCA and is subject to confiscation.

This notice is addressed to the agent designated by Win-Developer to receive notifications of claimed infringements, as reflected in the current records of the U.S. Copyright Office.

NOA has a good faith belief that your GBA rom collection and flash linker infringes Nintendo's intellectual property rights in violation of section 1201(b) of the DMCA and subject to seizure under 19 USC 1595a(c)(2)(c) by US Customs.

The post describing your Flash Advance Linker was found at: http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=28286&threshol d=1&commentsort=0&tid=155&mode=thread&pid=3038842# 3038997

Nintendo demands that you immediately cease the use of the Flash Advance Linker and turn it over to Nintendo.

The Flash Advance Linker appearing in your post has been identified by its title, description [and/or] depictions of associated artwork. Based on the information at its disposal on February 20, 2002, NOA believes that the statements in this notice are accurate and correctly describe the infringing nature and status of the infringing material.

Should you have any questions, please contact Nintendo of America Inc.

--
Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.

Re:Well what did you expect? by ryanwright · 2002-02-20 07:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

If the grinder was being used to make illegal keys then owning it would also be illegal.

NO, it wouldn't be! The grinder would be SEIZED from the felon for using it illegally, but the grinder itself would NOT be illegal! In other words, we would not say, "You're using it for an illegal purpose. All grinders are now illegal. Round up any merchants selling grinders, seize their property and throw them in jail."

That's effectively what's happening here...

--
-Ryan, with the unoriginal sig

You have no idea by jmu1 · 2002-02-20 07:38 · Score: 5, Insightful

what the intended market for any product is. I can buy a gun quite easily and shoot anyone I please. I could buy a car and run over your dog. I might like it, and a lot of people might want to do it. That doesn't mean that is the 'intended market'. I am so sick of you control freaks telling everyone what they can and cannot do simply because there is the opportunity to do wrong. Shame on you.

Re:FYI: The whole letter.... by zerocool^ · 2002-02-20 08:58 · Score: 5, Funny

Dear Sam Michaels:

How are you gentlemen?

Nintendo of America Inc. (NOA) is providing this letter of notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, USC 17 1201(b) (for great justice take off every zig) and the US Customs ruling dated December 20, 2001, regarding the import, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker. US Customs confirmed the Flash Advance Linker violates the DMCA and is subject to confiscation.

This notice is addressed to the agent designated by Zophar's Domain to receive notifications of claimed infringements, as reflected in the current records of the U.S. Copyright Office.

NOA has a good faith belief that someone set up us the bomb by distributing illegal imports of the Flash Advance Linker in violation of section 1201(b) of the DMCA and subject to seizure under 19 USC 1595a(c)(2)(c) by US Customs.

The e-commerce page offering the Flash Advance Linker for sale was found on your site at:
http://www.zophar.net/store/items.phtml?gba-a cc

Nintendo demands that you immediately cease the importation, distribution and sale of the Flash Advance Linker and all your base are belong to us

The Flash Advance Linker appearing on Zophar.net has been identified by its title, description [and/or] depictions of associated artwork. Based on the information at its disposal on February 19, 2002, NOA believes that the statements in this notice are accurate and correctly describe the infringing nature and status of the infringing material.

Should you have any questions, please move zig, move zig move zig at the following address, telephone and fax numbers, and/or e-mail address:

Nintendo of America Inc.
Attn: We get signal. What?
4820 Main screen turn on!
Redmond, WA 98052
Telephone: 425-861-2187
Fax: 425-882-3585
E-mail: Noalegal@noa.nintendo.com

We look forward to working with you to immediately resolve this matter. You are on the way to destruction. You have no chance to survive, make your time.

Sincerely,

NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

--
sig?

Counter to Intent of Copyright Law by Greyfox · 2002-02-20 09:54 · Score: 3, Insightful

With the DMCA and the extra-long copyright terms, you can guarantee that no surviving copies of a work will exist when the copyright term runs out. You can pretty much guarantee that you'll make your money on your work and that your work will never enter the public domain. Which is a good thing, if you're a big corporation, because that means that the public will no longer be able to get some pesky public domain work for their entertainment, even if they wanted to.

--

I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

Yet another reason to hate the DMCA by sterno · 2002-02-20 12:18 · Score: 3, Informative

The problem here is that regardless of whether there are or are not subtantial non-infringing uses is immaterial unless you've got the budget and cajones to fight it out in court. If they take down their site then they protect themselves legally. If they don't then Nintendo can go right ahead and sue them, come what may.

If Nintendo were to lose said suit, the only harm to them is the legal cost which is a drop in the bucket for them. If the accused loses, then there's legal fees and whatever damages are awarded. Heck, even if the accused wins, that will be after years of protracted legal rangling at exhorbitant costs. So the DMCA completely slants the legal playing field to the accuser. If I'm NOA, or any other company, it is in my best interest to swamp people with cease and desist letters because the odds are nobody will try to fight me. If they refuse, then it's up to me whether I feel like going after them.

Smart companies will, of course, pick and choose their battles, to work out a strong court precedent. Why go after the New York Times for publishing something when you can go after a hacker magazine? Eventually a strong legal history develops that pretty much gives any device manufacturer carte blanche to declare how people are allowed to use their systems, regardless of copyright issues.

Seems to me that there needs to be some protections in the DMCA for false accusations. While a company has to swear they are not purgoring (sp?) themselves it's next to impossible to prove that they did. They can simply say that they thought it was a violation and turns out they were wrong. There needs to be some penalty for going after somebody, otherwise there's no reason not to try to go after everybody on a whim.

Oh, and as a side note, is it just me, or did the Customs officials just get handed a huge amount of power under our noses?

--
This sig has been temporarily disconnected or is no longer in service

Re:FYI: The whole letter.... by B.D.Mills · 2002-02-20 12:41 · Score: 3, Interesting

Nintendo demands that you immediately ... turn over your remaining stock to Nintendo.

IANAL, but this is obviously an illegal demand:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated...

-- Fourth amemdment, US constitution

No person shall ... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ...

-- Fifth amemdment, US constitution

--

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke

Free software by yerricde · 2002-02-20 16:34 · Score: 3, Interesting

Distributing copies of the game is clearly copyright infringement.

Not if the game has been released as free software (or even free as in beer). Nintendo's titles aren't free, but mine are. I put my proofs of concept and short utilities under the Expat license and my full games under the GNU GPL. It's only copyright infringement to redistribute binaries of GPL'd software if you neglect make an offer to distribute machine-readable source code at cost.

Developing and using free software constitutes a substantial non-infringing use of the Visoly Flash Advance Pro cartridges.

--
Will I retire or break 10K?

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NOA to Sue for Flash Advance Linkers

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