ZDNet: SDMI hack draws legal threats. “Your contemplated disclosure appears to be motivated by a desire to engage in scientific research that will ensure that SDMI does not deploy a flawed system,” the letter says. “Unfortunately, the disclosure that you are contemplating could result in significantly broader consequences and could directly lead to the illegal distribution of copyrighted material.”
This is a consequence of the disaster called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the 1998 law that runs roughshod over free speech in its zeal to protect Hollywood, the music industry and other owners of copyrighted material.
This is government-mandated censorship. It should be unconstitutional.
The SDMI case may not be the one that decides the issue. Lawyers are getting ready to appeal a legal ruling in the 2600 case, in which the movie studios have blocked not only the posting of code they don’t like but even persuaded the judge to block some hyperlinks to it.
The arrogance of the copyright owners is boundless. Their protectors in Congress are shameless.