Thread: OT - but it's so important that you will care, believe me

  1. #1
    zeckensack
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    Exclamation OT - but it's so important that you will care, believe me

    Read about the latest and most sickening episode of 'computer destruction legislation' to be evaluated in the US.
    http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,51274,00.html

    Summary: You write code? You debug code? You use code? Well, if this law ever passes, you're a criminal.

  2. #2
    Just one more wrong move. -KEN-'s Avatar
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    >>Even programmers who distribute their code for free would be prohibited from releasing newer versions -- unless the application included federally approved technology.<<

    Heh, what if you wrote a compression scheme noone had seen before, would you be arrested?

    Oh yeah, but it does kinda suck...it only hits small-time coders really, big companies would barely feel any effects. Heh, can't you just see it now? "Hello? FCC? Yeah, I wanted to post some code on cprogramming.com, can I have your approval on it?"
    Last edited by -KEN-; 03-23-2002 at 09:47 AM.

  3. #3
    Just one more wrong move. -KEN-'s Avatar
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    Oops, looks like I was right:

    "I would expect the Disney studio to argue that either downloading or posting code that doesn't adhere to the security system standard transports the code" -- and would therefore be unlawful, Litman said.
    So either we all find out their phone number, or you backwards people from other countries won't get any more American help

  4. #4
    Mayor of Awesometown Govtcheez's Avatar
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    What about the stuff I make for school?

    To hell with this law.

  5. #5
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    Y'see!! Americans do the maddest things.

    'nuff said.

  6. #6
    Registered User C_Coder's Avatar
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    And the western world is supposed to be the free world!!!
    I'm gonna move to the middle east.
    All spelling mistakes, syntatical errors and stupid comments are intentional.

  7. #7
    the hat of redundancy hat nvoigt's Avatar
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    So basically the US erects a large firewall ? You mean like China ?



    American laws don't apply to the net. German laws don't apply to the net. Regulating the net with laws that come from one country only is doomed to fail, or create islands of censorship like China.

    I like those laws from people that have no clue. A German politician brought up a design where porn sites have to serve only after 22:00 hours, just like porn films on tv. I'm not sure if anyone told him that my 22:00 isn't your 22:00 on the net
    hth
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  8. #8
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    What the ..........? I'm glad Linux does not come from America, because the government sucks Bill's dick.

  9. #9
    Ecologist
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    Sorry, I'm somewhat slow... How much of an effect,
    if any, will this have on the game I'm currently
    making?
    Staying away from General.

  10. #10
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    i don't think it's possible. it's impossible to enforce and unconstitutional. it's like a stamp act on all code...

  11. #11
    geek SilentStrike's Avatar
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    This isn't about Bill, he doesn't give a **** what you do with your OS, as long as it's windows and you bought it. It's about the record companies, the movie companies, etc. They want you to stop stealing their songs, their movies.
    Prove you can code in C++ or C# at TopCoder, referrer rrenaud
    Read my livejournal

  12. #12
    S­énior Member
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    What if someone creates a compiler/vm that takes English as it's code?

  13. #13
    Registered User dirkduck's Avatar
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    Heh, when they come knocking at my door because i didnt't follow that law, im gonna give em the finger, and when they make me pay 500,000$ im gonna move to England . But seriously, that law is a load of crap. I doubt that they would pass it. Kinda reminds me of that one that you can only run government approved software (like only microsoft OS's), what ever happened to that one? They called it 'policeware'.

  14. #14
    Just because ygfperson's Avatar
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    What if someone creates a compiler/vm that takes English as it's code?
    you mean BASIC?

  15. #15
    Fingerstyle Guitarist taylorguitarman's Avatar
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    Reading the articles relating to the story helps a bit to put things in perspective. I think the idea behind copy protection is a good idea but this bill extends itself a bit too far. The hardware industry is also going to have a say in this matter and they're much bigger than the entertainment industry. Ultimately, they're the ones that will have to implement all of the security measures, which will most likely mean compatibility problems with current technology. The general public isn't going to be very keen on buying new equipment (probably expensive too) just so they can use the "copy protected" media (which will probably cost more).
    It's scary that something like this can even get this far.
    I think a great deal of this stems from the public feeling ripped off (an issue that seems to be ignored).
    I agree with the right to prevent copyrighted material from being pirated, but we must be very careful not to step on the rights of consumers (like the right to make a cassette tape from a CD you bought so you can listen to it in your walkman, or listen to the CD on your computer).
    We also have to be careful not the hinder the growth of technology.
    I think this bill stomps on both.
    Plus, no matter what kind of technology they come up with, someone will think of a way around it.
    It's time to come up with a solution to why this happening rather than coming up with expensive ways to restrict people from doing it.
    If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to see it, do the other trees make fun of it?

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