Interesting Tim O'Reilly article.

From: Brian Chase <vaxzilla_at_jarai.org>
Date: Sat Dec 14 00:01:01 2002

On Fri, 13 Dec 2002, Wayne M. Smith wrote:
> > On Fri, 13 Dec 2002, Brian Chase wrote:

> > > on his actions. Now, the MPAA folks say that reverse engineering their
> > > lousy CSS encryption is a crime. I think that's absurd, and I'm really
> > > surprised that /anyone/ on /this/ list would agree with the idea that
> > > reverse engineering something is, in itself, a criminal act.
> >
> > I have to second that.
>
> I'd have to too, had they said it.

Ah yes, to be more specific, the MPAA are using ?KOKRIM, a Norwegian
law enforcement agency, to prosecute Jon Johansen. They have charged
him with "cracking CSS". The prosecution, of course, couldn't say he
had "reverse engineered CSS" because that doesn't sound very criminal.

And we all know that "cracking a code" and "reverse engineering a code"
are two COMPLETELY different things; one of them is against the law!

-brian.
Received on Sat Dec 14 2002 - 00:01:01 GMT