Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

The Argument for Crackable Media

Posted by Zonk on from the making-software-work-for-you dept.

rubberbando writes "Wired is running a story about how the US Copyright Office is looking for input about a law that will allow some media to be legally cracked. This is aimed at certain uses such as cracking an ebook so that a blind person can use reading software with it and older software that requires a hardware dongle that no longer works." From the article: "The DMCA forbids cracking of copy-protected or encrypted digital media, with certain exceptions. When the law was passed, Congress mandated the register of copyrights revisit the anti-circumvention section every three years to make sure consumers have proper access to materials they purchased -- even if content creators have them locked down. If the copyright office finds instances where copy protection prevents fair use of the work, then those copy protections can be legally circumvented." We reported on the other side of the coin yesterday.

5 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Aimed at dead & obsolete hardware? by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 5, Funny

    They should call it the Sega Act

    1. Re:Aimed at dead & obsolete hardware? by zaguar · · Score: 3, Funny
      And for software - it should be the BSD act!

      I kid, I kid.

      --
      "Sure there's porn and piracy on the Web but there's probably a downside too."
  2. Re:Fair Use? by crache · · Score: 5, Funny

    It may be, but it would take an act of congress to make it legal.

  3. It Works by mlmitton · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm not sure I understand....my girlfriend says a hardware dongle always works.

    --
    "My girlfriend's got sodium laureth sulfate hair."
  4. I crack media all the time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Best way to destroy a CD.

    Just watch out for the shards.