Re: It's legal to crack Apple II copy protection

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Matthew Russotto wrote:

>In article <apple22-DCD232.22544428102003@zeus-ge0.rdc-kc.rr.com>,
>Greg Buchner  <apple22@mn.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>€  Computer programs or video games that use obsolete formats or 
>>hardware 
>>
>><Should include anything Apple II related...>
>
>Yes, but the exemption only applies to the act of circumvention in
>order to gain access to the work, which is damn-near unreachable
>anyway.  It does not apply to trafficking in circumvention devices
>(e.g. Copy II Plus) nor does it apply to circumvention in order to
>copy the work, nor does it apply to any actual copyright violation.

But it does seem to open the door for people to defeat the copy
protection on obsolete works to archive them for future use--a very
critical requirement for the preservation of digital works which would
otherwise be locked into failing or obsolete media.

The access and distribution questions can be resolved later, as
long as the information can be preserved now.
-michael

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