[free-sklyarov] Legal technicality question

[Izel Sulam]

Sam Gray saint_sam at yahoo.com wrote: 

>In other words, if I write my own
>software to rip the content from an eBook to exercise my fair use rights,
>can legal action be taken against me?  Or is it just when I try to tell
>someone else about it?

Not to be pedantic or anything, but if you never distribute any of your 
knowledge, any software, any illegal copies of any so-called intellectual 
property, etc, etc, who's going to know what you are doing in the sanctity 
of your own home?

With that said, I believe that the criminal portions of DMCA apply 
specifically to trafficking of circumvention devices. So you would be safe 
from the Feds if you dabble in crypto in your spare time and get no one 
else involved. Someone more knowledgeable than myself will have to address 
the civil portions, whereby someone can sue you for damages, that sort of 
thing, but no jailtime would be involved.

Standard disclaimer, IANAL. However, according to some guy who calls 
himself Cousin Willy (who posted earlier) I am allegedly a Giant 
Superbrain. Make of that what you will. 

Thanks,
- izel