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DeCSS Loses Free Speech Shield

Posted by simoniker on from the might-have-left-it-on-train dept.

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."

7 of 613 comments (clear)

  1. No time now for detailed analysis... by Glyndwr · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... so here's a "from the gut" reaction.

    Ah, shit.

    Sometimes, the continued reporting of how our rights as consumers are being eroded makes me want to put slashdot in my barred hosts file. And then move to a cave. I'm sick of this crap, I really am.

    --
    You win again, gravity!
  2. T-Shirts by N8F8 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dows this mean they have to stop selling the t-shirts too?

    --
    "God fights on the side with the best artillery." - Napoleon, Marshal of France - speaking truth to power
  3. DeCSS Meta Comment by llamalicious · · Score: 4, Funny
    Hmm, feel free to add here folks, I'm going to post a meta comment for this one (you know they're coming)
    • I should be able to say/print whatever I want! I am teh 1337!
    • The US and all it's USians are heading towards a nihilistic semi-fascist state!
    • DeCSS only breaks something that wasn't secure in the first place, who cares!
    • Six posts of people willing to host mirrors of DeCSS code
    • 4 geeks are going to comment on their DeCSS Perl t-shirts!
    • One militant troll is going to suggest we bomb MPAA headquarters
    • Someone's going to post DeCSS here on /. to see if they can get the comment removed.
    • 3 or 4 trolls who have no idea what DeCSS is are going to ask anyone if they know how to disable regions on their DVD player
    • Requisite flames will be posted telling the posters from the last bullet to STFU and RTFA. Or something.
    • One or two GNAA trolls (seem to be a dying breed, yay)
    • One page widening troll (oh wait, he hasn't shown up lately)
    Correct me, mod me, flame me, whip me, beat me. It's all good, you just aren't that important. Should you post something funny/insightful, I might give a shit. :)
    1. Re:DeCSS Meta Comment by bigpat · · Score: 4, Funny


      • one or two post about how predictable the other comments are
  4. Re:Mod Parent Down by RMH101 · · Score: 4, Funny
    NAZI! NAZI! NAZI!

    nope, all ok so far.

    your turn: go out into a major city with a broomstick in your hands and shout "allah is great! allah is great" and see how long you last.

  5. Re:illegal prime by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    extract it with:

    #!/usr/bin/perl

    Anyone else see the irony in using Perl to make something less obfuscated? :o)

  6. Re:Mod Parent Down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    your turn: go out into a major city with a broomstick in your hands and shout "allah is great! allah is great" and see how long you last.

    A lot longer than someone preaching Christianity in Mecca.