One thing I didn't quite figure out from the NY case is whether it's actually illegal to use a tool like DeCSS... the reverse engineering seems to be (at this point, according to Da Judge), and apparently distributing it is, but has the simple use of DeCSS been formally declared to be illegal?
I just wish this whole lawsuit thing would get dropped so I could start playing DVDs on my laptop's DVD drive under Linux.
While I don't want to diminish the effect that laws like the DMCA will eventually have on our everyday lives, I'm a bit incredulous that Rob doesn't play DVDs on his laptop just because it's "illegal." Are you incredibly law-abiding, Rob, or is LiViD just not good enough yet?:)
From http://www.good.com/frame.asp?child=/policies/term s.asp:
Software License.
THE SOFTWARE INLCUDED WITH THE GOOD TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT IS LICENSED TO YOU, NOT SOLD.
Good Technology grants you a nonexclusive, license to use the Software, subject to your compliance with the terms and restrictions set forth in this Agreement. You are not permitted to lease or rent, distribute or sublicense the Software or to use the Software in a time-sharing arrangement or in any other unauthorized manner. Further, no license is granted to you in the human readable code of the Software (source code).
...snip...
No Reverse Engineering. Modification, reverse engineering, reverse compiling, disassembly, or removal of the Software from the Product on which it is pre-loaded is expressly prohibited, except to the extent that such activity is expressly permitted by applicable law notwithstanding this limitation.
I learned more about how to LIVE at college than I learned how to work. Sure, taught me organization etc, but it was also a good chance to get out on my own, make some decisions, grow socially, etc. People who have a chance to go to college, but skip it for purely employment-related reasons, are missing out on a lot, I think. Of course, it depends on where you (might) go. Probably better "life experiences" at a smaller school than at a big state U.
Even if many slashdotters didn't submit comments, don't discount our effect on the whole debate. I'm willing to guess that there was a LOT of "peer education" on the issues. I know I've told everyone who will listen about the evils of the DMCA, and I distributed flyers. If this thing sneaks under the wire and gets implemented, then perhaps public sentiment is too little, too late. But by educating slashdotters, you probably reach a lot of the public in general. We're a passionate bunch, and we're not hesitant to share our views with random passers-by.:)
Sodipodi is a small Vector based drawing program. It currently loads and saves SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format, a standard maintained by the WWW consortium and can also inport various bitmap fromats. All the standard tools that you might be familiar with from CorelDraw or similar, work more or less (Circle, Rectangle, Freehand draw). Version 0.15 also has support for node editing including breaking, joining, bezier curves, etc.
As an added bonus, Sodipodi supports alpha channels to their full extent, even on bitmaps.
Printing also works, using gnome-print. The only problem seems to be that Postscript does not support alpha channels.
Well, that's true... happens in the US, too (same types of taxes). Taxes are often used to encourage certain types of behavior (tax liquor more than you tax food, etc). The idea being that it somehow contributes to the public good.
However, I think that most of these types of taxes funnel their money to other government agencies (gas taxes to the Environmental Protection Agency, cig taxes to Medicare or something - not sure). I'm not sure that siphoning $1 off each CD-R and giving it to Sony necessarily contributes to the public good in the same way that gasoline taxes going to the Environmental Protection Agency might.
If you buy a bunch of anime, you might look for the best price to start with. You show up and buy 2 at that price. You show up 2 weeks later and buy 3 more. They think "Hey, he's an anime junkie, and he's a creature of habit. We'll raise the prices $0.50 each visit, and see how long it takes him to notice!"
Sure, it would be possible to offer discounts for bulk purchases... but that's not guarantee that Amazon will do it. It's all about psycology, I guess.:)
What is it with copyright holders thinking that they have a right to tax/suppress anything and everything that might possibly infringe on their copyrights, or potentially cause them to lose profits? Banks don't tax car companies, even though everyone knows about the "getaway car." Emergency rooms don't tax knife and gun makers.
And yes, it's absurd to call it a "tax" when it goes straight to a corporation. They get enough government money already. (See sig!)
But if you have an HDTV and a digital VCR, wouldn't you have a totally digital recording?
Maybe. Do HDTVs have a digital output? I'd be surprised, I thought the industry heavies got on that one already.
But is it relevant? I don't think that the BetaMax decision said anything about the quality of the recording, they just affirmed that home recording (for time-shifting, etc) was legal.
Surely this will make people sit up and notice the absurdity of this whole copyright situation? Suddenly it's illegal to make an analog recording of something, simply because it was once in digital form?
And wasn't home television recording hashed out (and decided by the Supremes) quite some time ago?
Joe Average may not care about DeCSS, but tell him he can't record Monday Night Football (or Buffy, or whatever) and you just may have a revolt on your hands. I can only hope so!
Slashdot Mirror
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While I don't want to diminish the effect that laws like the DMCA will eventually have on our everyday lives, I'm a bit incredulous that Rob doesn't play DVDs on his laptop just because it's "illegal." Are you incredibly law-abiding, Rob, or is LiViD just not good enough yet?
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I did. Just this week.
If Windows gives you headaches, don't use it.
Well... duh.
If you don't enjoy school, don't go.
Fine advice, depending on where you are in school. Up to a point, what you're advocating is illegal, but after that... sure, go for it!
(Still trying to think what the problem is with being "the kind of person who thinks... if windows gives you headaches, don't use it.")
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Just so you know...
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(Anybody here go to Grinnell College?)
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However, I think that most of these types of taxes funnel their money to other government agencies (gas taxes to the Environmental Protection Agency, cig taxes to Medicare or something - not sure). I'm not sure that siphoning $1 off each CD-R and giving it to Sony necessarily contributes to the public good in the same way that gasoline taxes going to the Environmental Protection Agency might.
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Sure, it would be possible to offer discounts for bulk purchases... but that's not guarantee that Amazon will do it. It's all about psycology, I guess.
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And yes, it's absurd to call it a "tax" when it goes straight to a corporation. They get enough government money already. (See sig!)
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Actually, he promised pretty good privacy. :)
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Maybe. Do HDTVs have a digital output? I'd be surprised, I thought the industry heavies got on that one already.
But is it relevant? I don't think that the BetaMax decision said anything about the quality of the recording, they just affirmed that home recording (for time-shifting, etc) was legal.
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And wasn't home television recording hashed out (and decided by the Supremes) quite some time ago?
Joe Average may not care about DeCSS, but tell him he can't record Monday Night Football (or Buffy, or whatever) and you just may have a revolt on your hands. I can only hope so!
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Sorry, just had to say that. It's hard to mount a good argument for a cause when you can't even spell the cause.
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