Re: Question for any old pirates/programmers

[russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew T. Russotto)]

In article <x82dnRowRs_rxdzanZ2dnUVZ_hCdnZ2d@comcast.com>,
Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote:
>Autostart ROM wrote:
>> russotto@grace.speakeasy.net (Matthew T. Russotto) wrote:
>> 
>> 
>>>[Cracking]'s a lot easier nowadays, that's all I'm saying.  But it was legal
>>>back then.
>> 
>> 
>> Legal to crack, sure.
>> 
>> Not legal to distribute copyrighted works that you cracked. That's
>> always been illegal. 
>
>I think he may have been referring to the DMCA making cracking
>or even the promulgation of cracking techniques illegal...

Cracking and the promulgation of cracking _tools_ is illegal.
Discussion of the techniques is not yet illegal.  How you can
distinguish a technique from a tool in the world of software is an
open question.

>Thoughtcrime must be just around the corner.  ;-(

I think it's already arrived, but that's another subject.
(e.g. prosecutions for "conspiracy" where the only acts taken in
furtherance of the conspiracy were taken by the government agent-provocateur)
-- 
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  result in a fully-depreciated one.