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Wed 27 Oct, 2004 11:31 am
Ok, so I like to play computer games. I've had so many though the years that have been broken or lost that I now routinely *try* to make back-ups. Of course, with games such as Diablo, and many others by Blizzard, that gets really difficult. A lot of the cloning software fails to make usable backups... I can have a back-up... but should I need it, the game will not initialize with that cd. Then, of course, I must resort to cracking the executable.... which is baaaad. So, what's up with the DMCA? I mean, under US Code Title 17, Ch. 1, Sec. 117, para. (a)(2), it is legal for me to make a copy of computer software, provided I own an original, for archival use. Now... according to the DMCA, it is unlawful for me to circumvent the copyright protection features of such a program, be it planted bad sectors or digital signature or whatever. So, I have the right to make a copy. Blizzard has the right to try to stop me (remove my rights). And that's it? What the hell?!?!?!? Shouldn't it be just as illegal of a software producer to impede my rights, guaranteed in the above code, by placing a system in a work that is specifically designed to thwart the execution of said right?
Hokie, this topic is now in both Legal and Philosophy & Debate (we can do a copy from the Moderator end and that way you get all of the responses together on the same topic). Please do not copy it, thanks.
Damn good point.
IMO, the DMCA is a bit too overreaching.
I actually emailed Blizzard's Tech support on this issue. HAHAHA. I told them I had made a copy of their software but that it didn't work. Of course, they said that I am, by law, allowed to make a back-up. But they do not support back-ups made with third-party cloning software. So... I guess I'm screwed. Or, they are... cause I'll just crack it. At least I *tried* to play nicely. :-D
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