[99semaj]

In addition to jailbreaking, other exemptions announced Monday would:
- allow owners of used cell phones to break access controls on their phones in order to switch wireless carriers.
- allow people to break technical protections on video games to investigate or correct security flaws.
- allow college professors, film students, documentary filmmakers and producers of noncommercial videos to break copy-protection measures on DVDs so they can embed clips for educational purposes, criticism or commentary.
- allow computer owners to bypass the need for external security devices called dongles if the dongle no longer works and cannot be replaced.
- allow blind people to break locks on electronic books so that they can use them with read-aloud software and similar aides.

Interesting to read that breaking carrier locks is now legal in the US, just after Canada criminalised it.

 

[Wayne]

The article mentions a "1998 act" - is that the DMCA? So these new announcements are exceptions to the DMCA?

So from the sounds of this you could legally use deCSS to circumvent the copy protection on a DVD for purposes of criticism or commentary. So as long as you could convince the law that you are a "producer of noncommercial video" then you are free and clear to break the digital encryption. Interesting! Who wouldn't classify as a "producer of noncommercial video" even if you just wanted to create a short clip for Youtube with your commentary on Star Wars?

Will that mean that products that circumvent CSS (and other digital encryption) like AnyDVD and AnyDVDHD will now be legal in the US as long as you can prove you are in one of the "allowed" categories? These have kind of been in a grey market area for years.

 

[Dr.Dave]

Here's the Statement of the Librarian of Congress, complete with legalese.

http://www.copyright.gov/1201/2010/Librarian-of-Congress-1201-Statement.html

 

[Arthur Dent]

... just after Canada criminalised it.

When did that happen?

 

[Wayne]

He is referring to the Canadian DMCA - Bill C-32 that is, I believe, now before parliament having been introduced in June or so.

 

[Dr.Dave]

The proposed Bill C-32 already has an exception for unlocking cellphones.

I think C-32 should be made less restrictive than it is now. I'm not in favour of the bill, but if we're stuck with it, the Canadian DMCA should allow the same exceptions as the U.S.

 

[Arthur Dent]

So, Canada hasn't criminalize unlocking cellphones, and neither has plans to.

 

[99semaj]

Sorry, I meant to refer to manufacturer locks (such as jailbreaking an iPhone), not carrier locks (such as putting another carriers SIM in the handset)