[MPlayer-users] DeCSS legal status

[D Richard Felker III]

On Mon, Mar 31, 2003 at 03:04:30PM -0500, Justin Moore wrote:
> [Automatic answer: RTFM (read DOCS, FAQ), also read DOCS/bugreports.html]
> 
> > > As correct as this statment is, it is also true that DeCSS is in fact used
> > > to watch the DVD.
> > > Since DeCSS is circumventing CSS, it is a conflict with the DMCA...
> > >
> > > AFAIK, everytime we watch a legaly bought DVD with DeCSS, we are breaking
> > > the law :)
> > >
> > > But, this is pure legalese sh*t, it can be used almost everywhere except for
> > > the US.
> >
> > There has never been such a ruling, and probably not even such a
> > claim. The reason the lawyers go after decss itself (the source) is
> > probably because it can be used in making something to copy dvds.
> > That's quite different from a binary that only plays them.
> 
>    Actually the "2600 case" outlawed DeCSS simply on the grounds that it
> _could_ be used to circumvent encryption, regardless of the end use.
> And, no, in the court's eyes there was not and is not a distinction
> between copying and playing since the law makes no distinction between
> copying and playing.  The court's ruling is (unfortunately) quite clear.

Saying that the law makes no distinction between copying and playing
is both ignorant and plain wrong. The law does not even mention
playing whatsoever. RTFL.

Rich