Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg
A lot of lock-picking is done without criminal intent. This is true of the picking of physical locks, and true of DRM removal. EDIT: There are big differences between taking control of an eBook because you don't want to pay for it, and taking control of it because you think it would be nice if others could read it for free, and taking control of it because you want to read a Kindle format book on your Nook. In a just world, the first one would be treated just like shoplifting from a physical store, even though, in the real, unjust, world, equal enforcement can be extremely difficult.
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If it's the distribution that's the problem, then that's the part that should be illegal. You haven't given any justification for why breaking encryption for backup and format shifting should be illegal. There are lots of things we own that can be used for illicit purposes, and acts that are also first steps in illegal activities, but they aren't illegal until that line is crossed.
Here in Canada, breaking encryption is explicitly illegal now. In the time the law was being discussed before it was passed, the government said that it wouldn't go after individuals removing digital locks for personal use, but they refused to remove that part of the law. When asked to explain, they got shifty and evasive. There's something smelly behind it all that they think is better that we don't know about.