Squeak will become illegal in the US under the CBDTPA?
Jeff Bowman
jeff at dvns.com
Tue Mar 26 17:30:51 UTC 2002
I hope you are wrong. I'm afraid I need (or anticipate needing)
specifically those things. I'd have to stop using Squeak if those
suddenly disappeared. :(
Without reading the bill, though, it would seem like a bunch of
software would become illegal (assumption based wholly on your post),
like Netscape, Mozilla, InternetExplorer, etc. Is there maybe a
loophole to cover this?
Have I misunderstood?
Regards,
Jeff
Ned Konz <ned at bike-nomad.com> writes:
> The Hollings-Feinstein CBDTPA bill pending in the US will, AFAICT, make
> Squeak illegal unless we add approved "digital rights management" code to it.
>
> This is probably not what was intended, but appears to be the case given the
> wording of the bill.
>
> CBDTPA applies to "any hardware or software that reproduces
> copyrighted works in digital form." Which Squeak can do.
>
> However, I think Squeak can be made legal if the new bill passes by:
> * removing the ability to write files
> * removing the network connectivity classes
>
> Have I missed anything?
>
> Those of you outside the US may think you're free of this interference, but
> the global entertainment industry is not likely to stop at the US.
>
> Text of CBDTPA:
> http://www.politechbot.com/docs/cbdtpa/
>
> Politech archive on the CBDTPA:
> http://www.politechbot.com/cgi-bin/politech.cgi?name=cbdtpa
>
> --
> Ned Konz
> currently: Stanwood, WA
> email: ned at bike-nomad.com
> homepage: http://bike-nomad.com
>
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