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EFF Lands a Blow On DirecTV

Posted by kdawson on from the save-it-for-the-guys-who-are-actually-stealing dept.

An anonymous reader writes to alert us to a court win for the EFF in two cases in which DirecTV employed heavy-handed legal tactics to suppress security and computer science research into satellite and smart card technology. Here's the ruling (PDF) from the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. From the announcement: "The cases, DirecTV v. Huynh and DirecTV v. Oliver, involved a provision of federal law prohibiting the 'assembly' or 'modification' of equipment designed to intercept satellite signals. DirecTV maintained that the provision should cover anyone who works with equipment designed for interception of their signals, regardless of their motivation or whether any interception occurs. But in a hearing earlier this year, EFF argued that the provision should apply only to entities that facilitate illegal interception by other people and not to those who simply tinker or use the equipment, such as researchers and others working to further scientific knowledge of the devices at issue."

2 of 100 comments (clear)

  1. Re:[AC]Oh Come On. by CyberLord+Seven · · Score: 5, Insightful
    You were trying to be a smart-ass but you've hit on the fundamental problem with the DMCA. Cooperation is needed in all studies. Hell, even Einstein needed help with the geometry for Special Relativity.

    The DMCA will stop the parent from sharing what he has learned about satellite (not necessarily DirecTV) encryption. It will also stop a colleague from sharing what he's learned. This is analogous to Einstein not being able to get help with non-Euclidean geometry. It stops research!

    I've often thought a good defense against the DMCA would be the US constitution itself. You know, that part about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If I cannot satisfy my curiosity because the DMCA blocks my natural need to share my discoveries, then it is unconstitutional.

    --
    We have always been at war with Eurasia!
  2. Re:Scientific Knowledge? by jedidiah · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Except these people are not busting into YOUR house they are busting into THEIR house.

    Once you buy a thing, you own that thing. Busting into it becomes "equivalent" to busting into your own house and not someone elses.

    Anything beyond that needs to be proven.

    We have standards and procedures in this area for a reason.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.