[NTLUG:Discuss] MI2 boycott

[travis.farral@nokia.com]

This is an interesting point of view.  I don't know if I necessarily agree.
As opposed to Napster which I believe was created with less than moral
intent, I truly believe that DeCSS was orginally created for the shear
purpose of being able to view DVD's on Linux instead of being forced to load
Windows or purchase an external player to view them.  Members of the Linux
community did attempt to hash this issue out with the MPAA through more
prudent methods but were shot down at several attempts.  Finally, the answer
was to come up with something on their own.  Now sure, DeCSS *does* allow
one to illegally copy DVD's and I'm sure many have used it for that.  But my
questions are:  Does that mean that the MPAA was right in denying those that
run Linux access to DVD's they purchased?  Do you HONESTLY think that
someone else wouldn't have written a similar program to DeCSS eventually
that would have had the sole purpose of copying illegal DVD's?  Do you think
that DeCSS will honestly make an impact on DVD sales?  Remember that most
VHS tapes have no copy-protection at all and they sell just fine even with
the existence of dual deck VHS player/recorders.

I see your point about the law being the law and the MPAA is only trying to
protect it's resources.  But I see it much like the RIAA and their MP3
witch-hunt.  They continue to complain about copyright infringement and yet
the very technology they chastize is causing them to have record CD sales.
Wouldn't it have been better for the MPAA to *work* with the Linux community
and enjoy the benefits of broadening their target audience and increasing
sales instead of going with persecution instead?

Of course, all the above comments reflect *my* point of view and it may not
necessarily be yours.  In the whole scheme of things, I'm sure that neither
really amounts to much.  The courts will decide... life will go on... DVD's
will be sold.

-Travis

-----Original Message-----
From: EXT Brian Koontz [mailto:pongo at cinnabar.valtech.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 9:03 AM
To: discuss at ntlug.org
Subject: Re: [NTLUG:Discuss] MI2 boycott



Please, spare me the rhetoric.  You and I both know the purpose of DeCSS
is to make illegal copies of DVD's, just like the intent of Napster is
to illegally trade in MP3's.  Don't try to insult the public's
intelligence (or mine) by telling them something that isn't.