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"What the DMCA says is that you can't strip and redistribute the content, not that you can't strip and watch it." I don't think that's right. The DMCA forbids

by voyou 14y ago

"What the DMCA says is that you can't strip and redistribute the content, not that you can't strip and watch it." I don't think that's right. The DMCA forbids circumventing access controls, which would include decrypting a DVD; you have to decrypt a DVD to watch it as well as to copy it, so both potentially infringe the DMCA. At least, that seems to be confirmed by the FAQ at Chilling Effects[1], which is an advocacy site, but one run by lawyers. What's the source for your understanding of the DMCA? [1] http://chillingeffects.org/anticircumvention/faq.cgi http://chillingeffects.org/anticircumvention/faq.cgi

JohnHaugeland 14y ago
"I don't think that's right. The DMCA forbids circumventing access controls, which would include decrypting a DVD" I'm not sure where you get the idea that decoding a DVD is a form of circumventing access controls, since as an owner, access is controlled not for you, but for others. This means you can't redistribute it, not that you can't watch it. Access control means keeping unauthorized people out, not keeping legitimate purchasers out. Maybe you should ask a lawyer. . "At least, that seems to be confirmed by the FAQ at Chilling Effects[1]" And dis-confirmed by the Supreme Court, the US Attorney General, the RIAA, the MPAA, et cetera. I bet you can guess who I believe. . "an advocacy site, but one run by lawyers" Lawyers who are ignoring black letter law to make their advocacy site seem important. . "What's the source for your understanding of the DMCA?" Already cited.
- DanBC 14y ago
  > I'm not sure where you get the idea that decoding a DVD is a form of circumventing access controls, since as an owner, access is controlled not for you, but for others. > This means you can't redistribute it, not that you can't watch it. Access control means keeping unauthorized people out, not keeping legitimate purchasers out. DVDs are sometimes region encoded. Bob visits EU (from US) and buys a region-encoded DVD. He goes home, and tries to view this DVD, but it doesn't work on his machine. He looks online, and finds a hack to turn his machine from a region X machine into a region 0 ("all regions") machine. Do you agree that Bob is breaking the law here? Specifically, the DMCA anti-circumvention bits of the law? >"What's the source for your understanding of the DMCA?" > Already cited. I've tried to find it in the thread but I'm having trouble. Please, would you mind citing it again? Thanks.

by voyou 14y ago

JohnHaugeland 14y ago

"I don't think that's right. The DMCA forbids circumventing access controls, which would include decrypting a DVD" I'm not sure where you get the idea that decoding a DVD is a form of circumventing access controls, since as an owner, access is controlled not for you, but for others. This means you can't redistribute it, not that you can't watch it. Access control means keeping unauthorized people out, not keeping legitimate purchasers out. Maybe you should ask a lawyer. . "At least, that seems to be confirmed by the FAQ at Chilling Effects[1]" And dis-confirmed by the Supreme Court, the US Attorney General, the RIAA, the MPAA, et cetera. I bet you can guess who I believe. . "an advocacy site, but one run by lawyers" Lawyers who are ignoring black letter law to make their advocacy site seem important. . "What's the source for your understanding of the DMCA?" Already cited.

DanBC 14y ago
> I'm not sure where you get the idea that decoding a DVD is a form of circumventing access controls, since as an owner, access is controlled not for you, but for others. > This means you can't redistribute it, not that you can't watch it. Access control means keeping unauthorized people out, not keeping legitimate purchasers out. DVDs are sometimes region encoded. Bob visits EU (from US) and buys a region-encoded DVD. He goes home, and tries to view this DVD, but it doesn't work on his machine. He looks online, and finds a hack to turn his machine from a region X machine into a region 0 ("all regions") machine. Do you agree that Bob is breaking the law here? Specifically, the DMCA anti-circumvention bits of the law? >"What's the source for your understanding of the DMCA?" > Already cited. I've tried to find it in the thread but I'm having trouble. Please, would you mind citing it again? Thanks.