Danish DRM Breaker Turns Himself In To Test Backup Law

coaxial writes "In Denmark, it's legal to make copies of commercial videos for backup or other private purposes. It's also illegal to break the DRM that restricts copying of DVDs. Deciding to find out which law mattered, Henrik Anderson reported himself for 100 violations of the DRM-breaking law (he ripped his DVD collection to his computer) and demanded that the Danish anti-piracy Antipiratgruppen do something about it. They promised him a response, then didn't respond. So now he's reporting himself to the police. He wants a trial, so that the legality of the DRM-breaking law can be tested in court."

Comments

Re:this is brave

[nacturation]

So this guy clearly violated the law. He has the right to make a copy of his DVDs, but lacks the proper equipment to do so without violating other laws. The correct solution is to acquire the proper equipment. This guy should go out and buy a commercial DVD read/write drive so that he can make a proper copy without resorting to cracking the DRM.

Since everyone loves car analogies, let's say I have the inalienable right to drive my vehicle on the road. However, the only vehicle I have is a non-street legal Formula 1 car that exceeds noise levels, emits too much pollution, and doesn't have mandated safety equipment such as turn signals, daytime running lights, and so on. Because I can't drive my Formula 1 car, does that mean I am denied my right to drive, or that I'm free to drive a noisy, polluting, unsafe vehicle on the road in order to exercise that right? Absolutely not... I simply possess the wrong equipment to do so.