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The end of the road for the 2600 case

[Posted July 9, 2002 by corbet]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has issued a press release on the abandonment of the 2600 DVD case, which will not be appealed to the Supreme Court. This marks the end of one of the more prominent DMCA cases, and it sets some unfortunate precedents - at least, in the second federal court circuit. The ban on a piece of software as a "circumvention device" remains intact, and, chillingly, it is fine for the government to prohibit linking to content that it does not like.

The EFF's position is that this is not the right case to take to the Supreme Court - the end result would be much the same as with the lower courts. It is true that the EFF's resources are limited and should not be expended tilting at windmills. One can only hope that the right case comes along and we can begin to put a stop to the erosion of freedom in the name of protecting intellectual property.

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The 2600 case and the beginning of a disaster.

Posted Jul 11, 2002 9:55 UTC (Thu) by tres (guest, #352) [Link]

...and, chillingly, it is fine for the government to prohibit linking
to content that it does not like.

When I was in college this was required in papers submitted for grading;
It was called siting your sources. What are the chances that a news
organisation could make something up (or greatly exaggerate it) and say
that the sources could not be sited due to possible reprisals under the
DMCA. For example:

Microsoft's new Pladium security system is seriously flawed and can
expose your computer to untold mischief at the hands of anybody running
across exploit XYZ on the internet. I advise protecting yourself from
this exploit. Details can be found somewhere on the 'Net but I cannot
tell you where because the exploit could be considered a circumvention
device and as such I'm prevented from telling you where to find such
protections by the DMCA. As Bill G. would say: just trust me on this!

Tres

The end of the road for the 2600 case

Posted Jul 11, 2002 15:35 UTC (Thu) by KevinPostlewaite (guest, #2535) [Link]

"The EFF's position is that this is not the right case to take to the Supreme Court - the end result would be much the same as with the lower courts. It is true that the EFF's resources are limited and should not be expended tilting at windmills."

It sounds like the real issue is less one of resources and more that this is simply the wrong case to take to the Supreme Court. Once a case is heard by the Supreme Court, it becomes precedent for many more venues. You don't want to take a chance with something like this, but rather bring an easier to win case.

The end of the road for the 2600 case

Posted Jul 15, 2002 18:11 UTC (Mon) by pabloa (guest, #2586) [Link]

You are like the talibans. If your goverment does not like anythig it shutdown the thing, persecute the people invelved inside and out side of USA.

The only differences is technological and yes, Justice is a technological thing. You have judges and the talibans have the mulas. Both only follow the law, does it?