[OT] DeCSS & DECS

[Seth D Mosier]

Hi all, been lurking for a while. I know this is OT but, I also know that
a lot of admins for DECS also lurk around here and this topic seems to be
of interest to a lot of people in the community. 

In case you haven't heard, the MPAA is prosecuting people for _LINKING_ to
DeCSS [1] [2]. Even linking to links that link to DeCSS is being
prosecuted. Intent has to be proved that they know you're pointing to a
site that provides a method to acquire DeCSS though, and intent could be a
sticking point if you a good judge and an even better lawyer.

So, what's DECS' stance on this? If someone is found to be linking to a
DeCSS site, either intentionally or inadvertantly will they shut you down
and submit your name & address for prosecution? The point has also been
raised that you could rename the source DeCSS to something else to make
prosecution tougher [3]. 

How far are the admins willing to go to help the users out? I understand
that they don't want to be on the receiving end of prosecution, but there
comes a point where someone needs to stop the insanity. 

I guess this goes for all the systems at MSU and ISPs in the area. DECS,
CSE's admins, MSU's pilot admins, tcimet, etc. 

Just wondered what your opinions were.
--Seth

[1] The news can be found at: http://www.2600.com/news/2000/0830.html [4]
[2] Footnote style stolen from Ben Pfaff, see him for further prosecution.
[3] Possible names suggested: MPAA.c or dvd-fair-use-decrypter.c 
[4] Warning, if this goes on a webpage, it could probably be linked to a
DeCSS site eventually which would open you to prosecution. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Computer Engineering Senior at Michigan State University   	 
         mosierse@egr.msu.edu       http://www.egr.msu.edu/~mosierse