Posted by jayembee on 11/03/06 04:47

"Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xp7rt.net> wrote:

> Does this ruling apply to the tool itself, or to how people USE the
> tool? Even lock picks have a legitimate use if you are a locksmith,
> etc. And fast cars aren't illegal just because bank robbers use them
> to get away from the crime-scent/authorities, or even because some
> people break the speed limit in them.
>
> Does this actually change the concept of "fair use" or the intent of
> the copyright laws?

Probably not. From what I could see in the article presented, the
decision had nothing to do with the legality of file-sharing. It
appears only to reiterate Universal, et alia v Sony in that the
tools themselves are not illegal because they have legitimate,
non-infringing uses, and that the manufacturers of those tools,
like Sony and the Betamax, are not liable for losses incurred on
the part of copyright owners because some people choose to use
the tools illegally.

-- jayembee

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