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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."

4 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. 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)

  4. 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.