A story like this HAS to be mentioned…
Basically, the MPAA (motion picture association of America, the group that gives films their ratings in America and indirectly decides that the rest of the world can’t do things like copy DVDs, although if you are reading this you don’t need that explained!) has said that they made copies of a yet-unreleased movie to give to their employees.
While this in iteself is fun and a good laugh and all, there is more to it. Firstly, these guys may be stupid, but they aren’t dumb. They knew what they were doing would contravene what they have been preaching. Knowing this, they still pursue the action and copy anyway. So why do they even have the facility (either technically or as part of their SOPs) to do break their own rules? Secondly, and more importantly, if they are investigated and found to have circumvented ‘protection mechanisms’ in any way, they can be changed under the DMCA. Here’s to seeing what happens.
And here’s the story in full.
Would it be too much to ask to have the DMCA struck out as a result of this case, the lawmakers having seen how silly it is? I guess so…</em