Smartphone Jailbreaking and Video Remixing Rights

[Tinman57]

EFF Wins Renewal of Smartphone Jailbreaking Rights Plus New Legal Protections for Video Remixing

EFF won renewal of critical exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in a new ruling, including the upholding of jailbreaking rights for smartphones as well as new and significantly expanded legal protections for video remixing. However, the Copyright Office declined to expand the jailbreaking exemption to tablets and video game consoles, arguing that the category of "tablets" is not well defined and that jailbreaking video game consoles might lead to more copyright infringement.

https://www.eff.org/press/releases/eff-wins-renewal-smartphone-jailbreaking-rights-plus-new-legal-protections-video

[Renegade]

"Remix videos are thriving on YouTube and other sites, offering dynamic criticism and commentary on popular movies as well as popular culture. It's a great example of how new technologies foster free expression, yet the anti-circumvention provisions of the DMCA endanger these important works," said McSherry. "We're thrilled that the Copyright Office broke new ground in protecting remix artists. We can't let misguided federal law block a new form of art and expression."

That's excellent!

A lot of documentaries out there remix various other sources to comment on and explain things. Good to see that sanity has won a battle at long last! 

[TaoPhoenix]

"However, the Copyright Office declined to expand that exemption to tablets and video game consoles, arguing that the category of "tablets" is not well defined."

Sounds to me like the negotiators for the copyright office wanted a bone to save their hides from their superiors so that the press articles wouldn't declare a universal victory. Hmm, "Well, the tablet category is not well defined so let's not give it any rights."

[Tinman57]

That's excellent!

A lot of documentaries out there remix various other sources to comment on and explain things. Good to see that sanity has won a battle at long last! 

  Yeah, but it's one step forward, three steps back.....