5 ms·

changing the software on hardware you own is not illegal Not true. The DMCA makes it illegal to "circumvent" DRM schemes. It's also illegal to carrier-unlock y

by causi 4y ago

changing the software on hardware you own is not illegal Not true. The DMCA makes it illegal to "circumvent" DRM schemes. It's also illegal to carrier-unlock your phone without your carrier's permission.

EMIRELADERO 4y ago
Only if the DRM protects a copyrighted work, and even then only if the "protection" goes beyond protecting the software from being executed/used. (Chamberlain v. Skylink)
- causi 4y ago
  Root allows the user to bypass DRM such as Widevine.
  - zaroth 4y ago
    But then it’s not gaining root which is the problem, it’s (as always) what you proceed to do with it.
  - EMIRELADERO 4y ago
    The DMCA doesn't really care about what you do after. The "DRM" has to directly protect a copyrighted work. By your logic, a CFAA violation is also a DMCA violation.
mindslight 4y ago
I acknowledged the DMCA. The DMCA and other legal restrictions are indeed problems. Another one is likely emissions requirements, which at the very least discourage tractor owners from replacing the computers wholesale. But even if these legal restrictions were to vanish tomorrow, we'd still be stuck with a similar landscape - most manufacturer control comes from technical restrictions combined with a high rate of churn so even if someone invests the time to figure something out, it quickly becomes yesterday's model. Fundamentally, understanding is more difficult than creation. The calculus could be different on tractors, which are meant to last a real long time. Except the topic here too is focused on getting companies to positively supply things to help, rather than removing laws that hinder (FTA: "The agreement creates a mechanism to address farmers’ concerns and give them access to resources needed to repair their own equipment, such as diagnostic and repair codes, manuals and product guides.") So my ultimate point is that you need to move past thinking that a Constitutional "right to repair" law would address these problems. Such a thing would be as ineffectual as the Constitutional "freedom of speech" has been in addressing the social media oligopoly.

by causi 4y ago

EMIRELADERO 4y ago

Only if the DRM protects a copyrighted work, and even then only if the "protection" goes beyond protecting the software from being executed/used. (Chamberlain v. Skylink)

causi 4y ago
Root allows the user to bypass DRM such as Widevine.
- zaroth 4y ago
  But then it’s not gaining root which is the problem, it’s (as always) what you proceed to do with it.
- EMIRELADERO 4y ago
  The DMCA doesn't really care about what you do after. The "DRM" has to directly protect a copyrighted work. By your logic, a CFAA violation is also a DMCA violation.

mindslight 4y ago

I acknowledged the DMCA. The DMCA and other legal restrictions are indeed problems. Another one is likely emissions requirements, which at the very least discourage tractor owners from replacing the computers wholesale. But even if these legal restrictions were to vanish tomorrow, we'd still be stuck with a similar landscape - most manufacturer control comes from technical restrictions combined with a high rate of churn so even if someone invests the time to figure something out, it quickly becomes yesterday's model. Fundamentally, understanding is more difficult than creation. The calculus could be different on tractors, which are meant to last a real long time. Except the topic here too is focused on getting companies to positively supply things to help, rather than removing laws that hinder (FTA: "The agreement creates a mechanism to address farmers’ concerns and give them access to resources needed to repair their own equipment, such as diagnostic and repair codes, manuals and product guides.") So my ultimate point is that you need to move past thinking that a Constitutional "right to repair" law would address these problems. Such a thing would be as ineffectual as the Constitutional "freedom of speech" has been in addressing the social media oligopoly.