Slashdot Mirror
Debunking (some) DMCA Myths
An anonymous reader writes "C|Net's News.com is running an article under their Perspectives section about some of the myth and hype surrounding the DMCA. The author talks about how the EFF is exaggerating the danger from the DMCA. The author mentions that although "the DMCA is both an egregious law and a brazen power grab by Hollywood, the music industry and software companies", groups like the EFF are not much better, engaging in "fear-mongering" and scare tactics to increase opposition."
Hollywood executives are out to screw over fair use and the public.
.. and eventually he'll succeed in destroying any remnants fair use rights worldwide.
The EFF has not been spreading paranoia, they have been spreading the truth. Hollywood is paranoid. RIAA and MPAA have been spreading lies.
They would gladly take away ALL fair use rights. If it was up to them there would be absolutely no reverse engineering of software and no fair use of digital content.
If a physical media version of the DMCA existed, there will not be public libraries. Nevermind that public domain works have benefitted the "artists" themselves. Now they dont want to give back anything.
If MPAA had their way, VCRs would be illegal. Remember they tried to ban VCRs in the early eighties claiming the entertainment industry will go bankrupt? I ant beliefve Jack Valenti of MPAA still has credibility today after stating to the supreme court that the industry will go bankrupt if VCRs were legalized.
He's trying similar shit today. He's being persistent
The public doesnt have a powerful lobbying group for electronic rights.
The only reason the facade of fair use rights is typed into the DMCA is because of intense lobbying efforts of people like us and organizations like the EFF.
They get my 100% support. In America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and worldwide.
Why should Dimitri be arrested for something he did not do in the USA?
Why should Osama bin Ladin be charged with a crime he did not commit while in the USA?
Tell that to Dmitry or Bruce Perens' employer HP.
Why? They both already know that.
The DMCA really is being used to intimidate people doing legitimate research like Prof. Felten's group and providing information necessary for compatibility purposes(decss etc).
Laws don't intimidate people. People intimidate people.