WHDLoad CD on e-bay

[fiath]

Originally Posted by Mick22

And so is ripping the protection from floppy disk images (WHDLoad) so that duplication is easy for the mass distribution of copies. I am looking into this in great detail. I think the WHDLoad package is illegal in itself because it provides the tools necessary to pirate the software in the first place.

I had to also respond to this.

This is simply untrue. IANAL, but I have looked into this quite extensively over the years, and all indicators say that it is completely legal. Some people say it is a "grey area", but that does not seem to be true either.

In you live in the US, it is actually written down specifically in law as legal. There are special excemptions in the DMCA that specifically allow you to backup copy protected media for obsolete technology and systems.

The EUCD also seems to say it is legal, but this depends on the implementations in each country. For example, the German implementation of the EUCD indicates it is illegal to do it on CD's and DVD's (not other media like floppy disks).

All of this of course requires you to own an original copy. Obviously the normal copyright laws apply.

[fiath]

Ah girv, I just read your very nice summation of the EUCD and DMCA.

I would like to add however that although you can reverse-engineer such obsolete technologies, you are not allowed to publish such information. This is one of the reasons that CAPS/SPS IPF technology is currently closed-source.

Trivia: Those excemptions in the DMCA were made with CAPS specifically in mind.

[girv]

Originally Posted by fiath

I would like to add however that although you can reverse-engineer such obsolete technologies, you are not allowed to publish such information.

What statute is that determination based on? I'm not disagreeing (yet ), I'd just like to know as I hadn't run into this idea before.

[ant512]

Originally Posted by DrBong

Aminet would have removed them long ago for fear of litigation.

You mean like this?

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?t=13920

They seem to have re-appeared since, though.

[fiath]

Originally Posted by girv

What statute is that determination based on? I'm not disagreeing (yet ), I'd just like to know as I hadn't run into this idea before.

See Sony vs. bleem! transcripts. It is explicitly mentioned there IIRC.

This particular item is also why things like WineX/Cedega (okay, so since these guys run a business on it might be a reason, but this is their excuse) and Daemon Tools are not open source.

I also thought I also saw it in the DMCA, or perhaps it was the EUCD, but I can't actually remember too well since it was a while ago. I'll have to read up on these again I can see...

[Coolit]

And another one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Amiga-Software...QQcmdZViewItem

[lopos2000]

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