Dane who ripped his DVDs demands to be arrested under DRM law

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/12/01/dane-who-ripped-his.html

by ThomPete • 17 years ago

94 30 17 years ago

boingboing.net

sorbits2• 17 years ago

This stunt is lame as he is not violating any Danish laws, so why would Danish police arrest him?

If he had done it on US soil though (perhaps in front of the US embassy) there could have been an actual dilemma.

8plot2• 17 years ago

According to the article: "It's also illegal to break the DRM that restricts copying of DVDs."

I think it's a worthwhile attempt to resolve a contradiction of a stupid law.

chrischen3• 17 years ago

I don't understand how the laws are contradictory. Commercial disk does not necessarily mean DRM right?

skolor2• 17 years ago

I'm confused. Unless the article is wrong, "It's also illegal to break the DRM that restricts copying of DVDs" seems to state that he did break a law.

It makes quite a bit of sense to do a stunt like this, although I certainly would not be willing to be the person to risk it. The way most of the anti-piracy outfits work is to make vague claims about the legality of various actions, and demand a settlement. Sure, its cheaper to do that for both parties, but if they're just waving about a threat that has never been upheld (or not upheld) in court, it creates problems.

sorbits2• 17 years ago

The article is at least simplifying the issue.

IANAL but the license for the product you bought has to specifically mention, that you are not allowed to break the DRM, but there are exceptions, for example you are allowed to break it for interoperability and last I read about this it specifically mentioned “to play on another OS” as a reason.

Even if the license does prevent you from breaking the DRM you can seek to get it removed if you have a reason for needing to copy the material (non-commercially). The vendor has 4 weeks to reply to such request, after which you are free to break it yourself, if the vendor does not reply.

But as said, IANAL — maybe some of all those who down-voted my original comment can help? ;)

ErrantX4• 17 years ago

I do think this is silly; the risk is that it gets upheld and sparks a spate of "arresting normal people".

I dont see the problem with laws like this TBH: getting it questioned in court doesn't get to the root of the copyright issue in any meaningful way...

I thought there existed something of a gentleman's agreement in respect to this area: copying DVD's is that legal grey area that is probably against the law. But the rules aren't enforced for "everyman" and are there to help prosecute the big time bootleggers :) (DVD's out the back of vans).

I cant see how this would help at all - it's a non-issue, right?

chairface• 17 years ago

If the law is there to help prosecute bootleggers, then why aren't the laws against bootlegging enough? The law against making copies of DVDs is superfluous, by your own reasoning. Why isn't a good idea to challenge laws like this?

ErrantX4• 17 years ago

Sorry to have not been clear but I meant the laws around breaking the DRM/encryption - not the act of making the copy.

Bootlegging is one example of it's practical use.

GrandMasterBirt• 17 years ago

Challenge everything. That is the basis of our legal system (not to be confused with EA who's motto is "Rip-off Everyone".) So if you feel something is unjust challenge it. And sometimes you just have no way around it other than to be taken to court or to go to court.

skolor2• 17 years ago

The problem is it isn't just a grey area. Its a grey area that large corporations are using to push around the "little guys" with.

As for helping, its one guy doing the most he can. Its certainly more than I would be willing to do.

ErrantX4• 17 years ago

I dont buy it: which "little guy" has been prosecuted for breaking DRM encryption for personal use? (as this is what it amounts to).

I cant agree this would help: it's not really a contentious issue at the moment and this risks a) giving copyright apologists something to distract people with and b) risks a crackdown on people making personal backups...

I think there are better areas to challenge initially; that's all.

artsrc• 17 years ago

DMCA laws damage the economy, help create a police state, and are unnecessary.

The fact that format shifting DVD's is illegal harms the billion dollar market for digital video products. If format shifting CD's was illegal digital music products like the iPod may never have been the success they are today.

Making ordinary people criminals, but prosecuting them inconsistently gives arbitrary power to the state. This can create a climate of fear and lead in the direction of a police state.

Commercial bootlegging of CD's is a violation of existing copyright law, and nothing new needed to be made illegal to address it.

I value and respect the contribution of the great Dane.

blahedo• 17 years ago

But "arresting normal people" would be a great outcome for this (at least from the philosophical perspective I think he's coming from): it would make it a lot harder for Joe Random to push off a law as "stupid, but doesn't affect me, so whatever". If "normal people" start getting arrested and irritated, the law will be fixed.

furyg3• 17 years ago

There are two laws. They seem to conflict with each other. They both speak to acts that many, many normal people (as well as bootleggers) engage in and/or wish to engage in. Several people have tried to get clarification, but to no avail.

Thus, the only way to test the laws is to break one of them, and see what happens.

You may argue that it's not important, because only egregious violators are ever prosecuted. But that's the same as a government making a law which says "nobody is allowed to speak loudly" and then saying "but don't worry, we'll only arrest people who say dangerous things loudly".

IsaacSchlueter• 17 years ago

Hey, his lawyer has the same last name as me (though pre-americanized). Neat.

nearestneighbor• 17 years ago

They'll arrest him decades later, when he least expects it, like that Polish filmmaker.

Dane who ripped his DVDs demands to be arrested under DRM law

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