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Okular, Debian, and copy restrictionsOkular, Debian, and copy restrictionsPosted Jun 2, 2009 1:49 UTC (Tue) by 0b11101 (guest, #57638)In reply to: Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions by ncm Parent article: Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions
What is the very easy answer? Circumvent the DRM? Well, now you are a criminal. "Yeah, that was easy!" Seriously, not only are there laws like DMCA that criminalize this specifically, but also multinational trade treaties protecting copyrights generally. Even if those laws are not rigorously enforced within your private home, a commercially supported distribution cannot take that kind of legal risk.
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Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions Posted Jun 2, 2009 2:57 UTC (Tue) by ncm (subscriber, #165) [Link]
This is not DRM. For actual DRM cases, we already have evolved the answer, as demonstrated by the present handling of DVD players.
Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions Posted Jun 2, 2009 4:20 UTC (Tue) by 0b11101 (guest, #57638) [Link]
Having trouble following your replies. You say this is not DRM?
The Okular application says specifically, "copy forbidden by DRM".
Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions Posted Jun 2, 2009 6:34 UTC (Tue) by ncm (subscriber, #165) [Link]
Yes, it's not DRM. I can't help what okular says.
Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions Posted Jun 16, 2009 13:43 UTC (Tue) by zenaan (subscriber, #3778) [Link]
ncm: YOU ROCK!
My god it's good to be involved with the gang at LWN!
Made my day. Nothin like a regular dose of rationality. With class.
And Jon - excellent article! Clearly a timely raising of these issues.
Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions Posted Jun 2, 2009 4:39 UTC (Tue) by foom (subscriber, #14868) [Link] It seems pretty much like DRM to me.DRM generally uses encryption, with the distinguishing feature of having the decryption key widely known to all viewer software/hardware in the world. By thus controlling access to the encrypted data by requiring use of the special software with the decryption key, the content creators prevent users from accessing the content in objectionable ways. (or so they'd like to think). This is exactly what the copy-prohibit flag in PDF is doing, except that the default decryption key is actually documented in the PDF format documentation! That part is a little unusual for DRM, and I suppose might make ignoring this flag not trigger the anti-DRM-bypass laws.
Okular, Debian, and copy restrictions Posted Jun 2, 2009 4:58 UTC (Tue) by 0b11101 (guest, #57638) [Link]
DRM need not be as complicated as you elaborately explained. A quick read of the DCMA definitions of "copy protection systems" shows how broadly it can be defined. Just takes a copy right holder using some technology used to prevent some type of access.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c105:6:./temp/~c105...
Circumvention Posted Jun 2, 2009 14:56 UTC (Tue) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link] The very easy answer is: users do not want DRM restrictions and providers must cater to those users. DRM has failed in mp3 downloads, in DVD players, in protected documents, and in the few areas where it is still tolerated (iPhone apps, DVD CSS, console games) enforcement is quite lax.Circumvention is a valid possibility. AFAIK it is not illegal in the EU or elsewhere, so it can only be a problem in the US.
Circumvention Posted Jun 2, 2009 16:33 UTC (Tue) by 0b11101 (guest, #57638) [Link]
IMHO, the EU reverse-engineering protections for home-use do not defend against creating widespread public software for patent and copyright infringement, and I think we will see this play out in the courts there one day. Regardless, there are current and upcoming multinational trade agreements that do cover circumventing copyright technical restrictions, in the EU, so this issue is not as easily dismissed as to say it is a USA-only problem.
Plus, a quick read of the Directive 2001/29/EC seems to specifically prohibit circumvention of technical copyright restrictions. In Article 6, Section 1: "Member States shall provide adequate legal protection against the circumvention of any effective technological measures, which the person concerned carries out in the knowledge, or with reasonable grounds to know, that he or she is pursuing that objective."
Circumvention Posted Jun 16, 2009 13:52 UTC (Tue) by zenaan (subscriber, #3778) [Link]
Well well well. My, what a cool nic you have ...
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