Re: [dvd-discuss] is this real? Suing the keyboard co?

[Jeme A Brelin <jeme(at)brelin.net>]

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003, Marcia Wilbur wrote:
> German-based media giant Bertelsmann Group has launched a 400 million
> dollar lawsuit against major hardware manufacturers, alleging they
> traffic in banned circumvention devices that can be used to illegally
> copy their music CDs. It says that the Digital Millenium Copyright Act
> entitles it to protection from devices that can be used to circumvent
> its technological protections against piracy. Specifically, it demands
> compensation for the inclusion of "Shift" buttons on standard computer
> keyboards.
>
> http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/10/8/201119/758

Without following the link, it's clearly bogus.

For one, that's so absurd as to be a joke.  The inclusion of the shift key
is not the issue, rather Microsoft's software allowing the bypass via
shift.

But that's not even the tip of the iceberg with this one.  It's not even
real enough to be funny.  (The creators of the anti-copy system knew darn
were using someone else's technology to implement the scheme with all of
its inherent features, including shift bypass, etc.)

Also, the DMCA does NOT entitle a copyright holder to protection from
devices that can be used to circumvent TPMs.  The DMCA protects against
devices whose primary purpose is to circumvent TPMs.

J.
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     Jeme A Brelin
    jeme@brelin.net
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