The DMCA sucks. I’ve posted about this here (http://roudybob.net/archive/2004/02/21/387.aspx) and here (http://roudybob.net/archive/2004/02/21/389.aspx) – and my feelings haven’t changed. The DMCA is the most one-sided piece of legislation ever to have been created. The only party it protects is the large movie and recording industries – filling their pockets while their customers are prevented from exercising their right to fair use. I’m not condoning the actions of those who outright steal by pirating copies of software, DVD movies and music CDs. That behavior is criminal.
But as someone who has paid good money for various pieces of software, numerous movies on both DVD and VHS as well as countless CDs (which are all encoded on my PC WITHOUT copy protection, mind you!) I feel that the average consumer deserves the right to protect their investment by having backup copies of their purchases. Any parent with a 3 year old understands why you don’t leave the original copy of a Dora the Explorer DVD sitting around unguarded. It gets colored on with magic marker, stepped on, stuffed in the couch cushions and otherwise needlessly tortured. You knock an optical disc around enough times and the bits are sure to fall off…
I’m apparently the only one that believes this is the biggest load of crap consumers have been forced to put up with in a long time. If you agree, you should check out the Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org) and pledge your support. Just remember, folks, when digital copying mechanisms are outlawed, only outlaws will have digital copying mechanisms. J
The software company, which had argued that movie fans have a right to back up their DVDs, couldn't afford to fight the deep pockets of the Hollywood studios. By Katie Dean.
[Wired News: Culture]