[CoLoCo] digital copies on Linux

[Scott Scriven]

* Jim Hutchinson <jim at ubuntu-rocks.org> wrote:
> Actually, I don't think it has ever been decided by a court to 
> what extent copying movies you legally purchased is allowed or 
> not.

I think the decisions have been fairly consistent in that you can 
make a copy for your own use (fair use doctrine), but it's 
illegal to bypass the DRM (thanks, DMCA).  So, effectively, you 
can copy it but you can't legally play it.  For that, you need an 
approved device, which excludes free software.

The way it's written, circumvention devices are illegal, and even 
simple instructions count as a device.  So, if I told you to 
bypass the DRM on certain audio CDs by drawing a black line 
around the edge of the disc with a Sharpie, that would probably 
not be allowed by a strict interpretation of the law.  And source 
code to decrypt a DVD would definitely not be allowed.

> If you own it, you can do as you please with it as long as you 
> are the one still using it.

You don't really own the movie.  You own a piece of plastic.  The  
data on it belongs to someone else.


-- Scott