DMCA Limited by Sixth Circuit Appeals Court

katharsis83 writes "Ars Technica and others are reporting that the Sixth Circuit Court has ruled against Lexmark in their lawsuit against a generic ink manufacturer. Here is a link to the ruling (EFF Website)."

Comments

What's this?

[Trogre]

A judge with his head screwed on right?

What's next?

Dogs and cats living together?
North America having more than two presidential candidates?
Duke Nuken Forever going gold? And GPL'd?

OH NO!!

[OccidentalSlashy]

Oh...oh my god people....LEXMARK is involved...OH! Ink EVERYWHERE!! Sweet mary moses O'malloy....I...this...just give me a minute. Just give me a...a minute. Wow. Okay, I think I'm ready to handle this. THOSE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES!! WHYY!!!! Why...how could they do this...this day and age...oh, Slashdot, what does this mean....what does it mean....

oh no, no, no, no....i need a cup of coffee....mooannn..

Re:OH NO!!

[suckmysav]

I think more coffee is the last thing you need.

Re:Great news.

[theNetImp]

a friend of mine does this 3-4 times a year. Buys a printer, 3 months down the road finishes the ink or it dries out. He then goes out and buys the next model up because it's now cheapter than buying 2 cartridges. It's crazy...

Rulings for the technologically impared...

[Pollux]

You just gotta love reading this ruling, it actually makes me feel intelligent.

Before the printer runs the Toner Loading Program, it performs a "checksum operation," a "commonly used technique" to ensure the "integrity" of the data downloaded from the toner cartridge microchip.

Of course, you don't have to "understand" every piece of information presented in the ruling, but "understanding" what is written is a very "commonly used technique" to insure the "integrity" of communicating in the English language.

Re:Great news.

[Monkelectric]

So when you run low on yellow, you have to buy a new set of cyan and magenta ink as well

Yea, I always run out of flesh tones first >oops

in a bind

[Doc Ruby]

I would print that opinion out, but the ink would cost more than my Lexmark printer.

Re:Great news.

[Mignon]

Ink costs, 32$ per cartridge (you need a color and a black and white).

You got ripped off, buddy. My inket came with a lifetime supply of white ink.

Pinch me please

[FearUncertaintyDoubt]

Based on the events of the day, I am conviced that I am simply dreaming.

Evidence #1: Federal court issues a very common-sense interpretation the badly-abused DMCA and limits this abuse.

Evidence #2: The Red Sox are about to win a World Series.

Darl would be proud of this attempt

[Anonymous Coward]

From the ruling:
The Toner Loading Program relies upon eight program commands add, sub (an abbreviation for subtract), mul (multiply), pct (take a percent), jump, if, load, and exit

and

The Toner Loading Program for the T520/522 printers comprises 33 program instructions and occupies 37 bytes of memory.

Good thing Lexmark stood up to protect their IP from theft! Obviously these particular 33 instructions must have taken years and millions of dollars to develop.

Re:Cato Institute on copyright

[arose]

I see your "informed" and rise by a truckload of "marketing".

Re:Great news.

[arose]

Just print on black paper and all your ink wories are history!