Internet Trade Secrets Outweigh Free Speech(DVD copy code post)

[papau]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA0PV3TSJD.html

Internet Trade Secrets Outweigh Free Speech, California's High Court Says y David Kravets Associated Press Writer Published: Aug 25, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - In a closely watched case that pitted trade-secret rights against free speech, the California Supreme Court ruled Monday that courts can block computer users from posting on the Internet codes for illegally copying DVD movies. The dispute centered on San Francisco computer programmer Andrew Bunner, who in 1999 posted the code to crack an encryption program that is supposed to prevent unauthorized copying of movies.

The DVD Copy Control Association, an arm of Hollywood studios, sued Bunner and others under the Uniform Trade Secrets Act, a California law designed to protect trade secrets. A state judge in San Jose ordered Bunner to remove the code-cracking program from the Internet. But an appeals court in San Jose lifted that injunction, saying that protecting trade secrets is not as important as the First Amendment right to freedom of speech. A unanimous Supreme Court, however, ruled otherwise Monday. <snip>

[papau]

1. Seems having GOP appointed Judges kills free speech -unexpected?

Not that one should look at a Judges polictical leanings when making an appointment - that would not be "professional".

[Abaques]

8. Sadly alot of the pro-MPAA/RIAA crowd are Dems....

We need to fix that.

[amish_enforcer]

2. Hahaha

DeCSS is all over the world, dopes, and if that didn't exist, then something else will. When there's a will there's a way.

[htuttle]

5. I have the algorithm on a T-shirt

I heard someone had made the algorithm into song lyrics, too, as another test of the First Amendment.

[sujan]

12. here's the code

http://www.catb.org/~esr/css-auth.tar.gz

"As a public service and act of civil disobedience, we are proud to offer the DeCSS code that will allow you to circumvent the encryption on the DVDs you own. Your DVD, your hardware, your choice! (Please do not ask me technical questions about this code; I have never used it.)"

http://www.catb.org/~esr/

[Democat]

3. Corporation are writing laws and owning judges

Our government is supposed to be for the people, and corporation's interests are not supposed to supercede the constitution.

[Don_G]

7. Exactly

I've never burned a CD or DVD in my lifetime...yet....

However, per Micro$shaft and the RIAA and their attitude my attitude should be corrected before I get a chance to use their bundled software....

So what are my rights as a consumer and subject to the "Law" according to Micro$haft?

[rock]

4. I think they're wrong

Although I admit there's a problem. I don't like chucking principle because I can't think of anything else.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

6. Kinda Sad

It's sad that Hollywood's 'trade secret' encryption algorythm was smashed by a teenager from Finland(?) in his spare time because he wanted to be able to play DVDs on his LINUX system. I would call that a trade joke rather than a trade secret.

[Walt Starr]

9. What's sadder is their "trade secret" had so many holes

the only way they could protect it was with legislation.

And there are a number of Lapdog Democrats who joined in on this stripping of freedom.

[short bus president]

11. yes, but

"the Senator from Disney" (aka Mr. Hollings) is retiring. It's sad but true that the corporate-owned Dems have been much less populace-friendly on this issue than the corporate-owned repukes.

[baldguy]

10. It's called "reverse engineering"

And it's been done since humans began making things for other humans to use. We might as well outlaw all wheels that aren't made by Firestone.