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HP Uses DMCA To Quash Vulnerability Publication
Several readers wrote to note the fact that HP has evidently threatened to use the DMCA and computer crime laws against SnoSoft who have found a security flaw in Tru64. The quote from the HP VP is that the accused "could be fined up to $500,000 and imprisoned for up to five years."
Halfway around the world, Bill Gates breathes a long sigh of relief as Microsoft's profitability is assured well into the next century...
-Chris
--an unbreakable toy is useful for breaking other toys--
The part that says "Thou shalt not give multi-billion dollar companies, who buy laws, a hard time."
python -c "x='python -c %sx=%s; print x%%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))%s'; print x%(chr(34),repr(x),chr(34))"
in other news today the FBI raids the offices of SnoSoft in search of DMCA prohibited cracking tools, they immediately sieze compilers, source code, and felt markers.
The DMCA just made this world a safer place.
Don't ask, don't tell.
-- My HARDWARE, My CHOICE.
Theo... is that you?
For those of you who are HPaq-ese impaired, here is the message:
Dear HPaq customers,
We thank you for having purchased our products in the past, but now that we have finalized our merger and cashed our options, we have lost our minds and come to the boggling conclusion that we don't want your money anymore. Please do not buy our products because honestly you can't trust us to inform you when there is a defect with our product. This includes any servers, and handhelds our merger partner might peddle, printers, or whatever the hell it is these people do. As a sign of our gratitude for your service, we will be providing each future customer with a free Berber mousepad under which you can sweep any problems you discover. I you believe the problem doesn't exist, and we believe the problem doesn't exist, then we can work together to warp reality and drive cusomers away like poor starving slobs on the street corner to a free luncheon. Personally, I don't recommend you use these things in anything that might risk a human life or attempt to improve society in any way. Heck, I wouldn't run my porn servers on this crap. Well, gotta run, muy coke dealer is here. And don't forget to F off!
P.S. - Don't unravel the mousepad to see how it's made or we'll sue your ass into orbit under the DCMA.
"Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
Dear Ms. Fiorina,
I just read about your company's threat of action under the DMCA against a security researcher who released exploit information about your Tru64 Unix product. As a software engineer working for a large competitor of yours, I'd like to thank you for your actions. The well-earned reputation for security and reliability of our product can only be enhanced by ill-mannered attempts at suppressing information from your company. Any further help you can provide in assuring my future job security in this uncertain economy will be greatly appreciated.
I think the truly impressive part of this code is getting past the lameness filter... that's gotta be against some law
Here's what I sent. Do you guys think I should've emphasized the negative effects of the DMCA on HP's public image, a little more? Hard to pitch the balance right..
-------
Dear Miss Carly Hot Pants (if I may call you that):
I think you're a babe. I've been admiring you ever since I saw you with that dweeb Compaq CEO on CNBC. What's he got that I haven't got? I wish it were me standing on that stage next to you, shaking your hand. I hope he gets cancer and dies.
I read in a magazine that you like to go running. I like to go running too. I think you'd like to go running with me. I'm going to find where you live, so I can go running with you. I own a lot of HP products.
I want to get into your pants and learn more about the "new HP way". I want to "check the bottom line" with you (that's an accounting joke Carly, I hope you're laughing. I hate it when people don't laugh at my jokes). I think you'd really understand me. I know you won't just send me a form letter like Martha did.
Signed,
Your biggest fan.
PS: don't sue that hacker. But if it meant you and I could be together, I'd let you sue him. I love you Carly.
Posting your phone number on /. - damn, I guess you do need that wheelbarrow !
Moderators should have an option for ;-P
-1 Kiss Ass
That reminds me of the Casino night the local nuns put on, lots of loose sluts, man I was scoring all over the place.