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Feds Continue To Consider Linux Users Criminals For Watching DVDs

Posted by Unknown on from the don't-watch-that-movie-you-paid-for dept.

An anonymous reader sent in a link to an article in Wired about the latest DMCA loophole hearing. Bad news: the federal government rejected requests that would make console modding and breaking DRM on DVDs to watch them legal. So, you dirty GNU/Linux hippies using libdvdcss better watch out: "Librarian of Congress James Billington and Register of Copyrights Maria Pallante rejected the two most-sought-after items on the docket, game-console modding and DVD cracking for personal use and 'space shifting.' Congress plays no role in the outcome. The regulators said that the controls were necessary to prevent software piracy and differentiated gaming consoles from smart phones, which legally can be jailbroken. ... On the plus side, the regulators re-authorized jailbreaking of mobile phones. On the downside, they denied it for tablets, saying an 'ebook reading device might be considered a tablet, as might a handheld video game device.'" So you can jailbreak a phone, but if it's 1" larger and considered a "tablet" you are breaking the law.

9 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Re:They told me... by Nethemas+the+Great · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's cute but... The Register of Copyrights is appointed by the Librarian of Congress. James Billington was appointed by Reagan.

    --
    Two of my imaginary friends reproduced once ... with negative results.
  2. Re:duh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    What unlicensed system?
    Everybody who's playing DVDs on Linux already has a license, because they have a licensed DVD player in the computer, and already paid the Microsoft tax.
    The patent holders can't ask for more than that.

  3. An easy solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Don't watch DVD, download higher quality .mkv from pirate bay instead.

  4. Re:duh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    There is... Fluendo DVD Player, made by the same guys behind GStreamer, the same media framework used by GNOME.

  5. Re:the govt does not have any room to talk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    You should try and change your news source. You seem to be misinformed

  6. Re:12 days til we toss out the Bush Administration by amiga3D · · Score: 3, Informative

    My guy didn't make it dummy. Nowhere do I see Ron Paul's name on any ballot. Just because I'm not a fan of Romney doesn't make me an Obama supporter. I will say that Bush and Obama make me miss Clinton where the biggest concern was which ugly slut he was banging this week.

  7. Re:duh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    I really hate to agree with the copyright holders on this one, but...

    DVD players arn't licensed. And even WinXP didn't come with a license: http://www.pcworld.com/article/166586/cant_play_dvds.html

    Also, I don't buy crappy computers...I build my own and run Ubuntu

  8. Re:12 days til we toss out the Bush Administration by narcc · · Score: 4, Informative

    And a war criminal.

    --
    Required reading for internet skeptics
  9. Re:They told me... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Keep towing that party line

    Toeing. The phrase is to 'toe the line', not to tow it.