[plug] Re: Aussie DMCA is here now!

[Bret Busby]

Denis Brown wrote:
> 
> Bret commented on the apparent inconsistency between reverse-engineering
> and copyright matters.
> 
> <cheeky_grin>
> Presumably it's okay to reverse-engineer a bona fide copy of software, but
> not a pirated copy?
> </cheeky_grin>
> 
> Cheers,
> Denis

Hmm. Interesting concept. What say you, Jeremy Malcom?

Now, however, there is an interesting serious aspect to this; if it was
legal to reverse engineer legitimate software (where the person has
purchased it), but not illegitimate software (where the person has
pirated it), then, what of the prospect of reverse-engineering
illegitimate software, such as a virus, or, malicious hacking program,
in order to defeat the nasty software?

Would that be legal? If so, then, is the DMCA stuff valid? If it is not
legal, then, is all the anti-virus software, such as McAfee,
Thunderbyte, etc, legal? Or, is that illegitimate hacking, and
infringements of copyright?

-- 

Bret Busby

......................................