[CLUG] Alan Cox attacks the European DMCA

[adam beecher]

> I added the following when I posted the link to an internal list here..
>
> ----------------------------
> To relate this to every day stuff, here's an example: "I managed to get
> around my house security system, the windows aren't monitored at all!
> There must be something wrong with the alarm, oops, I can't complain
> because it's against the law!"
> Does that seem far fetched? A Russian programmer who reverse engineered
> a very simple encryption on electronic books so that blind people could
> read them spent several weeks in a US prison...
> ----------------------------
>
> That might help clear it up a bit methinks.
>
I think DeCSS might be a better example. I'm not 100% happy about the
Skylarov case meself, I don't think Elcomsoft's intentions were entirely for
the good of mankind. And of course they sell spamware, and allow their
resellers to spam. DeCSS is just as easy to explain.

Is it true that Alan won't travel to the US because of the DMCA? I saw this
mentioned recently in an April Fools piece, but I know he's really quite
annoyed about the whole thing. Also, Alan was coming to Ireland - has he
been yet? If he hasn't, I'd like to hear him speak about this. Should be
able to get some headlines out of it.

adam