[Ubuntu-SG] Should we "Say No to Piracy"?

[chewearn]

2009/6/22 suhaw koh <kohsuhaw at gmail.com>

> Hi Chew,
>
> 2009/6/22 chewearn <chew4097 at gmail.com>
>
>> 2009/6/22 suhaw koh <kohsuhaw at gmail.com>
>>
>>> <edit>
>>> As for the more recent Nov 2008 DL article about Sim Lim raids that Chew
>>> quoted, they are specifically about modifying devices to circumvent access
>>> control measures, ie modifying the Wii machines to play pirated software.
>>>
>>
>>> <edit>
>>>
>>
>> My point is that the Law could be broadly worded, such that the "device"
>> could reasonably be applied to a Personal Computer.
>>
>
> Most laws are broadly worded as they cannot be expected to deal with every
> minute detail.
>
>
>
>
>> In other word, the decss package *could* be considered illegal in
>> Singapore (just like in US), because it's enable circumvention of the DVD
>> access control.
>
>
> While circumvention of DVD access control may be illegal, we also know
> that there is also an express provision in Section 261C(10) allowing for
> import or sale of devices whose sole purpose is to control market
> segmentation for access to films e.g. multi-coded DVD player.
>


Sorry, I used the wrong words previously.

What I meant by "access control" was of being able to read/play but not copy
a DVD; something which the CSS encryption (together with the copy bits and
DVD consortium licensing agreement) is meant to do.

I did not mean "access control" with respect to the DVD region code.  I
agree that the Law has a specific exception to invalidate DVD region coding.



>
>
>
>> My personal opinion: in practice, Singapore is a very pro-business
>> country.  It is very likely that anything we do *in this matter* that
>> would be detrimental to "business" would get us into trouble.
>
>
> In that case, the very existence of TUSG would get us into trouble:
> Anything we may want to do can be considered as being detrimental to
> business.
>
>
Let's not "over-extrapolate".  I am referring to specific potentially
illegal circumvention packages, such as decss, win32codecs, etc. (note: I
emphasis the words "in this matter" to my previous reply above).


Perfectly legal things that TUSG do could be promoting Ubuntu, having
release parties, open source education, etc.


Btw, it seems we are going a bit off track from your initial post.  I don't
mean to say I am against joining HIP (at the moment, I am undecided).

I replied to this thread because I have previously worked for a MNC
designing DVD devices, so I thought I could add my 2 cents knowledge in this
area.


Regards
Chew
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