US Copyright Office wants to know which forms of DRM should be allowed to be cracked

Who are you? · 10-03-2011, 02:27 PM

A few days ago a notice of inquiry was issued by the US Copyright Office to determine what exemptions there should be from the prohibition against circumventing of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. US copyright law requires this to happen every 3 years, last time exemptions were granted for amongst others ebooks that have text-to-speech disabled and cellphones that disallow installing software.

So if you're American and think it should be allowed to crack the DRM on ebooks, now's the time to tell the government, just be sure to argue without resorting to catchphrases like "information wants to be free" or arguments that are not based on non-infringing use like "I already have the paper book, I deserve a free copy of the ebook."

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011...2011-25106.htm

MrsJoseph · 10-03-2011, 02:29 PM

Maybe I'm just slow today...but I can't locate the "where to send" address...

monkeyluis · 10-03-2011, 02:37 PM

I back up the books I've purchased. That is all.

Who are you? · 10-03-2011, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJoseph

Maybe I'm just slow today...but I can't locate the "where to send" address...

Where to send is to http://www.copyright.gov/1201/comment-forms as described in section "4. Submission of Comments".

That page will exist from November 2 until December 1 2011 5:00 pm EST

MrsJoseph · 10-03-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Who are you?

Where to send is to http://www.copyright.gov/1201/comment-forms as described in section "4. Submission of Comments".

That page will exist from November 2 until December 1 2011 5:00 pm EST

That's what I thought but when I try that link I keep getting:

Quote:

The deadline for request to testify was 5 p.m. April 3, 2009.

For further information, see Federal Register notice 74 FR 10096, issued March 9, 2009.

Ron. · 10-03-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Who are you?

Where to send is to http://www.copyright.gov/1201/comment-forms as described in section "4. Submission of Comments".

That page will exist from November 2 until December 1 2011 5:00 pm EST

if I click that link I get

Quote:

The deadline for request to testify was 5 p.m. April 3, 2009.

For further information, see Federal Register notice 74 FR 10096, issued March 9, 2009

HarryT · 10-03-2011, 03:14 PM

The previous poster said that the page would exist from 2nd Nov. That's still a month away.

MrsJoseph · 10-03-2011, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Who are you?

Where to send is to http://www.copyright.gov/1201/comment-forms as described in section "4. Submission of Comments".

That page will exist from November 2 until December 1 2011 5:00 pm EST

It doesn't open until 11/2/11? I need more coffee...

MrsJoseph · 10-03-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

The previous poster said that the page would exist from 2nd Nov. That's still a month away.

lol, I just realized that...

Dylrob · 10-03-2011, 08:48 PM

Personally I think you should be allowed to crack it on any "purchased" works. DRM makes some sense with rentals, but otherwise all it does is restrict what legitimate consumers can do with something they legitimately paid for. It certainly doesn't hinder pirates.

SmokeAndMirrors · 10-03-2011, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylrob

Personally I think you should be allowed to crack it on any "purchased" works. DRM makes some sense with rentals, but otherwise all it does is restrict what legitimate consumers can do with something they legitimately paid for. It certainly doesn't hinder pirates.

DRM will only start making sense for rentals once it stops being used for legally owned content (purchased or free).

It totally makes sense to have restrictive terms on essentially loaned items. But in addition to all the other problems with DRM, the fact that it's used on content people supposedly own means stripping technology is probably far more ubiquitous than it might otherwise be. If owned content were DRM-free (or stripping programs were provided mainstream) and rentals had a unique DRM protocol, I doubt the demand to crack it would be anywhere near as high. Rental companies would probably save a lot of money on having to buy replacement copies.

As it stands, in addition to punishing honest consumers, DRM also hurts rental businesses.

And I was all ready with my nice letter, only to find that it's not open to submission yet! Ah well. It's in the can, at least.

nesler · 10-03-2011, 10:51 PM

While it's a great idea for everyone here to prepare individual statements, does anyone else think that it would be worthwhile to prepare a group statement which others could support as signatories?

Barbara1955 · 10-03-2011, 11:05 PM

THI IS WHAT I GOT!! The deadline for request to testify was 5 p.m. April 3, 2009.

SmokeAndMirrors · 10-03-2011, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nesler

While it's a great idea for everyone here to prepare individual statements, does anyone else think that it would be worthwhile to prepare a group statement which others could support as signatories?

I like it.

elcreative · 10-04-2011, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

THI IS WHAT I GOT!! The deadline for request to testify was 5 p.m. April 3, 2009.

And if you read the earlier part of the thread then it is explained that the date you get relates to the last time they did this and the new request opens in November...

10-03-2011, 02:27 PM	#1
Who are you? Groupie Posts: 184 Karma: 300001 Join Date: May 2009 Device: 505	US Copyright Office wants to know which forms of DRM should be allowed to be cracked A few days ago a notice of inquiry was issued by the US Copyright Office to determine what exemptions there should be from the prohibition against circumventing of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. US copyright law requires this to happen every 3 years, last time exemptions were granted for amongst others ebooks that have text-to-speech disabled and cellphones that disallow installing software. So if you're American and think it should be allowed to crack the DRM on ebooks, now's the time to tell the government, just be sure to argue without resorting to catchphrases like "information wants to be free" or arguments that are not based on non-infringing use like "I already have the paper book, I deserve a free copy of the ebook." http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011...2011-25106.htm

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10-03-2011, 02:29 PM	#2
MrsJoseph Loves Ellipsis... Posts: 1,554 Karma: 7899232 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Washington, DC Device: Kobo Wifi (broken), nook STR (returned), Kobo Touch, Sony T1	Maybe I'm just slow today...but I can't locate the "where to send" address...

10-03-2011, 02:37 PM	#3
monkeyluis Banned Posts: 725 Karma: 656644 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Central Florida Device: iPad "3", Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, iPhone 4S	I back up the books I've purchased. That is all.

10-03-2011, 03:14 PM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The previous poster said that the page would exist from 2nd Nov. That's still a month away.

10-03-2011, 08:48 PM	#10
Dylrob Murderous Mustela Posts: 10,234 Karma: 48000000 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The other land of schnitzel and beer Device: iPad M1 Pro, Kindle Paperwhite	Personally I think you should be allowed to crack it on any "purchased" works. DRM makes some sense with rentals, but otherwise all it does is restrict what legitimate consumers can do with something they legitimately paid for. It certainly doesn't hinder pirates.

10-03-2011, 10:51 PM	#12
nesler Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 548458 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: California Device: Too many to list	While it's a great idea for everyone here to prepare individual statements, does anyone else think that it would be worthwhile to prepare a group statement which others could support as signatories?

10-03-2011, 11:05 PM	#13
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	THI IS WHAT I GOT!! The deadline for request to testify was 5 p.m. April 3, 2009.