May 2, 2007


More on Web 2.0...
Cease and Desist Letters Backfire Horribly Against AACS
TGDaily.com | OMG, H4X! or The Machine is Us/ing Us

It may be noted that the DMCA is poorly drafted legislation designed to favor an outdated industry group with anti-competitive legal restrictions on innovation.

It may also be noted that the best efforts of the MPAA to encrypt HD DVDs (and thus limit fair use of legally purchased product on Linux systems) failed.

Now, websites are getting cease and desist letters for anyone found to be hosting content containing a certain string of hexadecimal letters. Which of course means that these numbers are being posted all over the internet, everywhere nerds are able to access user-created content. Which of course means that more and more cease and desist letters are going out.

The best part, though, is that the cease and desist letters themselves contain reference to the objectionable code.

So...

Every time the MPAA attempt to take it down, they send a cease and desist letter containing the code. The letters get posted online, and the code gets propagated again (never mind the number of people who are encouraged to post it elsewhere).

As someone who appreciates irony, I felt compelled to point this out. And buy the shirt.

(The Facebook group grabbed more than 2,500 members in a day).

EDIT: More on CNet, BBC News, PCWorld.
EDIT2: I'm in ur DRM, h4xing ur flicks.