Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben Thornton
Could you explain what activities in relation to DRM are criminal, please? This isn't a snipe, I'm interested in the answer.
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I went to look this up, as I thought that in the US any violation of section 1201 or 1202 of the DMCA was a criminal matter. But (IANAL) it seems that violations are only criminal if they are done "willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain".
http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap12.html#1204
(IANAL) But perhaps the plain language of the section actually means something else in legalese.
Any removal of DRM or Distribution of DRM removal software could be prosecuted under a civil action, with statutory damages of a minimum of $200 per removal violation, and $2,500 per distribution violation.
But only by a person injured by such violations. (IANAL) I don't see how anyone can claim to have been injured by a customer removing DRM from ebooks they have bought. Nor really by DRM removal software distribution.