[free-sklyarov] Please no flames for what i'm about to propose...

[mike castleman]

Please do not interpret this as a flame; it's not intended to be.

It seems to me that equating crypto and weaponry is exactly what we
want to avoid. The pro-DMCA forces babble on and on about how people
are producing "digital lockpicks" and "digital crowbars" and other
nasty things. The last thing we want to say is, "Yeah, Sklyarov's
product is a weapon." No, we want to argue that DeCSS, eBook
Processor, and whatever comes next are useful, protected tools harmful
only to the profits of selfish corporations.

mike

On Wed, Jul 25, 2001 at 02:13:09PM -0700, Roger Kramer wrote:
> I'm just trying to keep options open...
> 
> Yesterday someone correctly, I think, observed that there are 2nd amendment 
> issues here, too. Would anyone deny software can be used as a weapon?
> 
> I am not a lawyer, but...
> The full text of the law makes various well-intentioned exceptions to the 
> Anti Circumvention Provision for research, etc. etc. One interesting 
> exception in Section 1201 (e) essentially exempts the U.S. government and 
> anyone acting "officially" on its behalf. ...making the U.S. gov the only 
> party who in all cases is allowed to bear these particular arms.
> 
> Might the NRA, yes Europe, I said National Rifle Assoc, be interested in 
> this? Are there any card carrying members out there that want to comment? 
> They have deep pockets and most of the Republican party.
> 
> roger

-- 
// mike castleman, mlc67 at columbia.edu
// cell: +1 (646) 382-7220
// "facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - aldous huxley
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