The sought exceptions would have allowed consumers to legally view DVDs from other regions or skip "unskippable" commercials found on some DVDs. Four exceptions were, however, allowed: for decoding lists of Web pages or directories blocked by Internet filtering software, accessing e-books for which the publisher has disabled the read-aloud function, circumventing obsolete digital rights management devices that prevent access due to malfunction, and accessing computer programs and video games distributed in an obsolete format.
EFF Staff Attorney Gwen Hinze was disappointed by the fact that the Librarian of Congress failed to realize the impact the DMCA law has on fair use of legally purchased products.
Robert Menta published an article about digital consumer rights almost three years ago.
Menta wrote: "Now, copyright holders can add encryption's that force the user to pay for each time they take out that CD, tape, or program file, denying that open access we all presently enjoy. This new law gives copyright holders the implied right to do this by making a crime to circumvent such a feature."
We all know how the story has developed since then.
Source:
PCWorld
Written by: Jari Ketola @ 29 Oct 2003 12:26
