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Copy Protection a Crime Against Humanity

Trevalyx writes "An article over at Wired looks into the relation between copy protection and the reality of a rational amount of 'wiggle room' that is typically provided by the legal system. It's a topic covered often on Slashdot, but it's still a good read. Should be accompanied by a visit to the Electronic Frontier Foundation for your Daily Dose of Defending Digital Freedom." The article does a good job of giving examples of legal leeway that's granted every day.

14 of 473 comments (clear)

  1. I don't think so by toddhunter · · Score: 3, Funny

    They will need something catchier than 'DDDDF' for it to take off with the masses.

    1. Re:I don't think so by Jason1729 · · Score: 5, Funny

      'DDDDF' sounds like a report card.

      Jason
      ProfQuotes

    2. Re:I don't think so by UltimateZer0 · · Score: 2, Funny
      Something like the "Formal Rejection of Electronic Enclosure - People Openly Revolting a Nuisance" (F.R.E.E. P.O.R.N.) That would DEFINETLY sell!

      ---

      --

      --- I'm going to get a score of -1 for this post because the mods are fuckers.

  2. Imagine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Imagaine a beowulf cluster of copy protection lawsuits!

  3. I'm really wondering when we'll see DRM viruses. by Gldm · · Score: 3, Funny

    Here's one I expect to come up. Viruses that hack the DRM bits on common media files. Some turn them on, to annoy people with legit homemade files, some turn them off, to annoy media companies. I'd imagine both will seem funny enough to some hackers to produce several.

    --

    Introducing the new Occam Fusion! Now with sqrt(-1) fewer blades!

  4. Re:Should Be? by zcat_NZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Face it, the only difference between a religion and a cult is the amount of followers

    Religion; A large, popular cult.

    Cult; A small, unpopular religion.

    --
    455fe10422ca29c4933f95052b792ab2
  5. Re:Protection or prevention? by release7 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can use condoms to protect myself from STD's and to prevent pregnancy. So the choice of word doesn't matter much to me. But if you're my girlfriend, well, then you're just getting screwed.

    --

    <a href="http://www.joblessjimmy.com">Work is dumb and so is Jobless Jimmy.</a>

  6. Re:The Irony by klang · · Score: 2, Funny

    Copyright © 1994-2002 Wired Digital, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Now THAT's Irony for you! :-)

    /klang

  7. Re:Uhhh... by toddhunter · · Score: 1, Funny

    Hey, two words, "mellow out man"

  8. Re:DRM for cars by Eminence · · Score: 2, Funny
    No speeding; the car won't accelerate past the speed limit. No following too closely; radars prevent that. No excessive speed relative to adjacent lanes; the car slows down.

    Jeeeez... that would take all the remaining fun out of driving.

  9. Take a look at the light side of copy protection by Sigurd_Fafnersbane · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let us not dwell only with all the negative aspects. Mandating buildt-in copy-prevention in all electronic devices will also have a lot of practical applications.

    If for instance you could build a radar-beacon for your car that broad-cast such a copy-protection signal. The A/D converter in the trafic control radar would recognize the copy-protection signal and dutyfully shut down ;-).

    When enemy radar is locking on your plane, no problem - you just send them a request to shut down and all the missiles will fall out of the sky.

    Go to a televised ball-game and bring a poster with a no-copy watermark. All the TV-cameras would stop working while they panned over your part of the benches.

    That the recording industry can suggest to mandate such functionality can only be a proof that they have no technical insight. General purpose computers can by default do signal processing. If you make them in a way so they cannot do signal processing - they are no longer general purpose computers.

    In order to sell any kind of content to a customer you have to eventually present it to the customer in a form that can be perceived by her. If something can be picked up by a human being it can also be picked up by a machine. Live with it.

  10. gotta love slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    where cooking tips get moderated "interesting" and "insightful."

    "News for chefs. Stuff that spatters!"

  11. Re:The Definition (for those interested) by thynk · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just look at Britney Spears...

    Oh, believe me, I do. But what does she have to do with the RIAA - does she sing or something??

    --

    Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
  12. Re:Why it's irrelevant by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yes, because when someone works at McDonald's because of pirated music, they normally die. Pirating music is nothing like parking in someone else's parking space where nobody gets hurt and you just annoy/waste someone's money. No, people always die when you pirate music. Or sometimes they don't, but they always end up in hospital.

    I downloaded some Sonny Bono music the other day and look what happened! It made him smash into a tree! All because I'm a pirate!

    Could you tell me what your band is? I'd like to pirate some of your music, then you might not be able to post to slashdot anymore.