[free-sklyarov] MSNBC story

[Ethan Straffin]

proclus writes:
> Here is another story that you can rate for ranking.
> 
> MSNBC: Digital copyright act harms research
> http://www.msnbc.com/news/607194.asp?0dm=C12PT&cp1=1

I especially like this paragraph:

--
LetÕs say a researcher suspects that a computer media player is acting as
spyware - reporting back to the vendor what songs or movies are being
played on the player, without disclosing that fact. Under the DMCA, the
researcher must first obtain permission from the vendor before decrypting
the transmissions. The researcher must then give the results to the
company, and the results cannot be published or made available to the
general public unless the company says O.K. If the vendor doesnÕt give
research permission in the first place, the researcher is forbidden from
using decryption tools to discover whether or not the vendor is acting in
good faith. Having seen countless examples of companies saying one thing
about privacy and doing the opposite, I find this particular DMCA
restriction outrageous.
--

As focused as I am on fair use, I hadn't fully considered this privacy
angle, though it now seems obvious.  I think this could be a really good
point to make in our evangelization to the general public; it can be
explained without too much technical gobbeldygook, and it hits them where
they live if they're at all concerned about their privacy.

Ethan
--
"No man, woman, or child is safe when Congress is in session."
                                                -- Will Rogers