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DeCSS Loses Free Speech Shield

JohnGrahamCumming writes "BusinessWeek/CNET is reporting that the California Supreme Court has ruled that 'a Web publisher could be barred from posting DVD-copying code online without infringing on his free speech rights.' They also say that 'the state Supreme Court ruled that property and trade secrets rights outranked free speech rights in this case.'" According to the article, this "...overturned an earlier decision that said blocking Web publishers from posting the controversial piece of software called DeCSS, which can be used to help decrypt and copy DVDs, would violate their First Amendment rights."

2 of 613 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Outrageous Outranking by Telastyn · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    And neither is the prohibition of yelling *FIRE!* in a theatre for example.

  2. OK ASS by HyperColor+Underware · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Actually the 13-14-15 year olds are on the verge of being released, as in, in the next month.

    Now this is really fuzzy. You're saying it's OK that the Europeans do it, because he's old?

    It's still the EXACT SAME VIOLATION. They're holding that guy, and probably more, without trial, USA is doing the same thing.

    With one hand, Russia holds back the United States from using military force. With the other hand, they wipe out scores of Chechens.

    Europe is so screwed up, it's almost sad to talk about it.