[MPlayer-dev-eng] [PATCH] Commandline switch to enable/disable DVD protection

[Krister Lagerstrom]

D Richard Felker III wrote:
> IMO this is silly. It won't help protect anyone since the code is
> still there and only disabled by the user.

It matters for a binary distro, at least it doesn't violate DMCA (or
similar) right out of the box, the user has to make a conscious effort
on his own to violate whatever laws are applicable for this (if any).

> Lockouts like this -- even
> optional ones -- do not belong in free software.

I honestly didn't think it would offend anyone. Look, it is *the same
function* as before after you apply this patch. Noone will be hindered
by the patch (or even notice it) if they're just a regular MPlayer user.

> MPlayer is not Alan
> Cox's toy with which to "make a statement" by crippling "illegal"
> features.

I'm *not* trying to make a statement. I really wish the DMCA (and
similar in Europe, you know there's a similar law in EU law too,
right?) would just go away by itself. Again, this patch is invisible to
regular mplayer user's (and hopefully it won't get in the way of any
developers either).

> MPlayer developers either simply don't care about the law
> (many of them live in places where it does not apply), or prefer to
> make their statements through civil disobedience 

Talk is cheap. I'd have a lot more respect for that statement after you
turned yourself in for violating the DMCA.

> rather than
> mindlessly accepting what the govt/corporations say is law.

This happens to be the one of the foundations of democracy, which I'm a
strong subscriber to. Laws should be changed through a democratic
process (which is possible in both the US and the EU). Civil
disobedience in cases like this is OK IMHO to draw attention to a bad
law, but it is easier said than done. Why don't you start?

		/ Krister