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I'm not sure why. If the point is to make the firmware read every bit of the drive, that doesn't seem like it would break any copyright law. The encrypted data

I'm not sure why. If the point is to make the firmware read every bit of the drive, that doesn't seem like it would break any copyright law. The encrypted data is rather useless without breaking DRM, but the DRM breaking doesn't happen in hardware. If the firmware is based on existing, proprietary drive firmware, then distributing it may run afoul of copyright law, but if all that's distributed is a patch file then I don't see the problem there either. There are quite a few countries with exceptions in copyright law for compatibility reasons, like modifying programs to make them work on newer hardware without the original authors' consent. The reason VLC (and many other open source projects) can play DVDs is that France, where VLC is based, has laws that make it legal to distribute a DVD playback library. I don't think any Linux distros have faced legal trouble over distributing VLC, even if they are American in nature. I'm sure the copyright lobby will have a different opinion, but I don't think it's quite as black and white without knowing where the author resides and/it what nationality they have.

immibis 2y ago
Because the purpose is to read disks protected by technological protection measures. Circumventing technological protection measures is illegal, period. That's one of the things many people don't like about the DMCA. I'd recommend to start archiving this website now.
- tombert 2y ago
  I mean, the post is from 2019, and MakeMKV has been around much longer than that. I know this isn't always the case, but I feel like if they were going to take down MakeMKV's site, they probably would have done it by now.
  - immibis 2y ago
    They thought that about Yuzu, too.
    - tombert 2y ago
      MakeMKV has been around considerably longer than Yuzu ever was. I think I first downloaded it in 2013-2014. Not to say that the MPAA isn’t ever going to go after it, but I am sure they’re aware of it by now and have, if nothing else, been biding their time.
tempfile 2y ago
The DMCA is American law, so the parent comment can only be referring to America. Obviously doesn't apply outside there. > I don't think any Linux distros have faced legal trouble over distributing VLC, even if they are American in nature. That's because they generally don't distribute libdvdcss, which is the illegal part. > Many Linux distributions do not contain libdvdcss (for example, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE) due to fears of running afoul of DMCA-style laws, but they often provide the tools to let the user install it themselves. For example, it used to be available in Ubuntu through Medibuntu, which is no longer available. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libdvdcss#Distribution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libdvdcss#Distribution
- anilakar 2y ago
  > The DMCA is American law (...) Obviously doesn't apply outside there. ...and when you host your code on Github or Gitlab, they will have to comply with DMCA letters. After one round of exchanging counternotices the content will have to stay down unless the alleged infringer is willing to fight the matter in a US court.

immibis 2y ago

Because the purpose is to read disks protected by technological protection measures. Circumventing technological protection measures is illegal, period. That's one of the things many people don't like about the DMCA. I'd recommend to start archiving this website now.

tombert 2y ago
I mean, the post is from 2019, and MakeMKV has been around much longer than that. I know this isn't always the case, but I feel like if they were going to take down MakeMKV's site, they probably would have done it by now.
- immibis 2y ago
  They thought that about Yuzu, too.
  - tombert 2y ago
    MakeMKV has been around considerably longer than Yuzu ever was. I think I first downloaded it in 2013-2014. Not to say that the MPAA isn’t ever going to go after it, but I am sure they’re aware of it by now and have, if nothing else, been biding their time.

tempfile 2y ago

The DMCA is American law, so the parent comment can only be referring to America. Obviously doesn't apply outside there. > I don't think any Linux distros have faced legal trouble over distributing VLC, even if they are American in nature. That's because they generally don't distribute libdvdcss, which is the illegal part. > Many Linux distributions do not contain libdvdcss (for example, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora and openSUSE) due to fears of running afoul of DMCA-style laws, but they often provide the tools to let the user install it themselves. For example, it used to be available in Ubuntu through Medibuntu, which is no longer available. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libdvdcss#Distribution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libdvdcss#Distribution

anilakar 2y ago
> The DMCA is American law (...) Obviously doesn't apply outside there. ...and when you host your code on Github or Gitlab, they will have to comply with DMCA letters. After one round of exchanging counternotices the content will have to stay down unless the alleged infringer is willing to fight the matter in a US court.