[cc-community] GNU-GPL, makefiles, and non-distributed executables
Terry Hancock
hancock at anansispaceworks.com
Mon Dec 17 13:22:16 EST 2007
Asheesh Laroia wrote:
> In fact, if referencing a work were the same as distributing it, then the
> publisher of a website that linked to software that was illegal to
> distribute could be held liable for linking! That's CRAZY! You'd be
> putting news publishers in jail for describing others' illegal actions!
>
> And yet it happened - US courts repeatedly ruled that Eric Corley, who
> linked to DeCSS on 2600.com, violated the law.
> (http://w2.eff.org/IP/Video/MPAA_DVD_cases/?f=20011128_ny_appeal_decision.html
> and other links.)
That is kind of nuts, but I don't think the basis of that is copyright.
It's based on the idea that the defendent is assisting people in
committing the "crime" of install DeCSS software on their computers
(because the DMCA makes that a crime).
Of course, that is a serious setback for freedom of speech in the US,
since in the past, describing how to break a law has not been considered
criminal.
But I still don't think it sets any copyright precedents.
Of course, I'm not a lawyer.
Cheers,
Terry
--
Terry Hancock (hancock at AnansiSpaceworks.com)
Anansi Spaceworks http://www.AnansiSpaceworks.com
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