Re: [dvd-discuss] Lexmark Decision

["D. C. Sessions" <dvd(at)lumbercartel.com>]

On Sunday 30 March 2003 02:50, John Schulien wrote:
# Or, in other words, they are converting their "creative expression"
# into a simple fact.  The simple fact is that this particular monolithic
# block of bits is the only block of bits that will allow a cartridge to
# function on this printer.  It is a KEY.  It is a unique fact.  It should
# lose any copyright protection in this specific context because no
# functional alternative expression exists.

That's not true.  The printer checks the hash of the bitstream,
not the bitstream itself.  Assuming that there are about 50 more
bytes in the bitstream than in the hash, there are about 2**400
possible bitstreams with the same hash.

Out of that many possible bitstreams which meet the hash
requirement, there is surely room for *some* creativity.

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