[Gllug] UK DMCA

[Andrew Richardson]

For those who haven't seen this yet check out

http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/33322.html

If the company takes this one to court it will hopefully demonstrate 
just how much excess legal power can be used by companies attempting to 
cover for their mistakes in this area.

The problem is who will listen, who has not already been 'sufficiently 
wined and dined', by such organisations ?

Alain Williams wrote:
> For those that did not see this, read:
> 	http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032498.htm#24
> 
> an extract from ``Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 2498'', Made 27th September 2003, Laid before Parliament 3rd October 2003,
> Coming into force 31st October 2003. Ie in mid party conference season. 40 points and 3 schedules.
> 
> It looks as if we have DMCA by the back door, I doubt if most MPs (let alone any public) are aware of it at all.
> 
> 
> 
> Copy of parts of it:
> 
> 
> Circumvention of protection measures
>      24.  - (1) For the heading "Devices designed to circumvent copy-protection" (appearing before section 296) and for section 296 there shall be
> substituted - 
> 
>       " Circumvention of protection measures
> 
>            296 Circumvention of technical devices applied to computer programs
> 
> 
>           (1) This section applies where - 
> 
>             (a) a technical device has been applied to a computer program; and
> 
>             (b) a person (A) knowing or having reason to believe that it will be used to make infringing copies - 
> 
>                   (i) manufactures for sale or hire, imports, distributes, sells or lets for hire, offers or exposes for sale or hire, advertises for
> sale or hire or has in his possession for commercial purposes any means the sole intended purpose of which is to facilitate the unauthorised removal or
> circumvention of the technical device; or
> 
>  .... and it goes on a bit.
> 
> I am not experienced in the reading of these things, maybe someone could submit a summary (written in English).
> 


-- 
Gllug mailing list  -  Gllug at linux.co.uk
http://list.ftech.net/mailman/listinfo/gllug