Re: [dvd-discuss] Would this consistute circumvention.

[microlenz(at)earthlink.net]

Well John, you may have discovered another reason to allow fair 
use for circumvention "your honor, look at the CRAP I have to put 
up with to listen to this CD. I'm not 13. I want dignity.","Mr Zulauf. 
Calm yourself. Let me see this"...one demo later..."Mr. Zulauf I find 
that not only did you have cause to circumevnet this obnoxious 
player and find it "fair use" now...can you help me out with my 
daughter's CDs...she's used LINUX and is getting really hard to 
deal with at home when she screams at the computer.."

Date sent:      	Fri, 09 Nov 2001 13:19:23 -0700
From:           	"John Zulauf" <johnzu@ia.nsc.com>
To:             	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu
Subject:        	Re: [dvd-discuss] Would this consistute circumvention.
Send reply to:  	dvd-discuss@eon.law.harvard.edu

> 
> 
> Michael A Rolenz wrote:
> > 
> > Actually, there are provisions in the copyright code for use of
> > works in schools, I think that they may apply.....Did you try
> > turning off the autoload feature of the CDROM...that way the cd
> > can't autolaunch and you can't be accused of circumventing their
> > cheezy player. OHMYGOD!  turning off autolaunch is now circumventing
> > too! Maybe the "effective" word comes to mind here...
> 
> Actually I didn't attempt to play the CD using the standard player --
> it probably would have worked.  Their built-in player STUNK too! 
> Aside from the low quality, cheesy diso-fever pose teeny-bopper
> targeted image of "Mr. La Vida Loca" himself which comprised 90% of
> the control dialogs pixels was the excreble UI performance, 3-5
> seconds from clicking a play/ff/stop to any action... no visual
> confirmation of control clicks, and the CD-text of currently playing
> song was NOT correctly updated.
> 
> Two things worry me here.
> 
> First is whether the record companies think that "obfuscation" is a
> 1201 effective TPM (and whether they could convince the FBI of it). 
> This of course would put a whole class of very useful software at
> risk.
> 
> Second is the "built-in player" softening up the public (targeting the
> youth first) to (1) assume that audio CD's don't have audio data that
> they can or should access -- and (2) to allow them to deploy arbitrary
> use control players (encrypted whatever) hidden behind the facade of
> accepted use of those targeted players. 
> 
> Actually having executables that autoplay on what is usually
> considered a benign, data-only format, would be any amazing way to
> spread some timebombed, viruses on a CD-ROM -- or software that looked
> for, report (and/or corrupt) MP3 files or P2P connections!!!  Given
> the RIAA *already* thinks they have a right to stealthy search without
> warrant (they just wanted damage indemity in the failed amendment to
> the ATA) I wouldn't put it past them.  Little Johnny buys the
> Backstreet Boys and it sends the RIAA and FBI an email.  To quote
> Darth Vader in Star Wars episode V -- "all too easy..."
> 
> Am I getting (even more) paranoid?
> 
> .002
>