[Newspoetry] philosophical 1st amendment question

[Joe Futrelle]

So movie studios are arguing that the Digital Millenium Copyright Act
forbids the dissemination of algorithms for defeating copy-protection
schemes in any form, in effect eliminating fair use for digital works
and making it illegal to discuss encryption in public (since any
thorough discussion of an encryption algorithm must include a
description of how to defeat it).  This gives owners of works complete
control over who may use the works and how.

So what if this argument holds up in the Supreme Court?  Then,
couldn't someone make a movie describing how to circumvent a
copy-protection scheme and then copy-protect the movie and prevent
anyone from viewing the movie unless they signed a licensing agreement
waiving their right to use it as evidence?  Or something like that?

--
Joe Futrelle
editor-yet-chief
Newspoetry . kom