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Bruce Perens Plans On-Stage DMCA Violation

Posted by timothy on from the performance-art dept.

cyber_rigger writes: "From this article at infoworld Bruce Perens said he plans to break the DMCA during a presentation on digital rights management (DRM) Friday afternoon at the O'Reilly Open Source Convention in San Diego. Technically, under the DMCA, Perens' explanation of the technology makes him liable for a fine of US$500,000. You have to admire his spirit."

6 of 652 comments (clear)

  1. You have to admire his spirit." by phunhippy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You have to admire his spirit.

    Translation: I'm an armchair activist.

    I think everyone should go out and opportunities post information about to break stuff like that "violates" the DMCA.. printing flyers.. posting them everywhere.. hehe even sticking batches of flyers next to dvd players in major stores would be a good start.

  2. Why don't more people do this? by Pooh22 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Disclaimer: I'm from the Netherlands, so the heat is still a few kms in front of me...

    What I don't understand is that Bruce Perens is an exception to the rule. Whatever happened to civil disobedience as a way to make unambiguously clear that the government has gone too far and needs to rethink it's policies.

    If Americans don't stand up more forcefully, the US will either infect the whole world with their orwellian shite or (I sure hope this happens) they will at some point in the near future be ignored as something that a free country cannot follow without losing essential freedoms.

    Three cheers to Bruce Perens and anyone who follows his example!

    Simon

    1. Re:Why don't more people do this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'm an American. And you are why I LOVE foreigners and hate Americans. 90% of them are so caught up in their shallow existences they've forgotten they live in a world with other people. This is just my opinion, but a society raised on television has nothing left to shock it. And a society that isn't shocked won't stand up to fight :(

  3. Re:My question for Mr. Perens by warpSpeed · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Hopefully they will arrest them....

    If "they" don't arrest him, can future arresties argue selective prosecution?

  4. Re:More then just technology by sielwolf · · Score: 5, Interesting
    The problem here is not about a single law, but it is about a whole system that is showing signs of unrealibility, the so called Democracy.
    Actually I thought civil disobedience (and this example) shows the strength of Democracy.

    The problem is that, no matter how much bureaucracy you make, it is still possible to get an unjust law passed. So trying to improve the system won't work.

    The key is that Democracy allows for grass-roots reevaluation of legal precedent (through intentional civil disobedience or unintentionally [Scopes Monkey Trial]).

    How many important US laws have been passed due to activism? Women's sufferage, Civil Liberties Act, etc etc.

    Demonstrations are the most legally protected and peaceful. Civil Disobedience comes right after it.

    The problem is when you decide that the system is beyond repair and so you take to illegal action with little interest in federal procedure. If Perens was just going to hand out a thousand Region-free copies of the Matrix or if he was going to assassinate the President, then he would only be breaking the law for his own self-interest. He isn't and that's why I wish him the best of luck.
    --
    What is music when you despise all sound?
  5. Re:We have a problem here... by Bruce+Perens · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I do have to leave some time for my talk, so I will probably limit the number of demos. But maybe I'll try the Celine Dion and a black marker thing. So far, I can't get either of my DVD-equipped laptops to work with DeCSS. Maybe someone else should bring one.

    Bruce

    --
    Bruce Perens.