Not really, or Openoffice/Staroffice/Libreoffice would not be able to open
Microsoft formats.
Here is what section (f) of Chapter 12 of the DMCA has to say to the regard :
(f) Reverse Engineering. — (1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), a person who has
lawfully
obtained the right to use a copy of a computer program may circumvent a
technological
measure that effectively controls access to a particular portion of that
program
for the sole purpose of identifying and analyzing those elements of the
program
that are necessary to achieve interoperability of an independently created
computer program with other programs, and that have not previously been
readily
available to the person engaging in the circumvention, to the extent any such
acts of identification and analysis do not constitute infringement under this
title.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections
(a)(2) and (b), a person may develop and employ technological means to
circumvent
a technological measure, or to circumvent protection afforded by a
technological
measure, in order to enable the identification and analysis under paragraph
(1),
or for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an independently created
computer
program with other programs, if such means are necessary to achieve such
interoperability,
to the extent that doing so does not constitute infringement under this title.
(3)
The information acquired through the acts permitted under paragraph (1), and
the
means permitted under paragraph (2), may be made available to others if the
person
referred to in paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be, provides such
information
or means solely for the purpose of enabling interoperability of an
independently
created computer program with other programs, and to the extent that doing so
does not constitute infringement under this title or violate applicable law
other
than this section.
(4) For purposes of this subsection,
the term “interoperability” means the ability of computer programs to
exchange information, and of such programs mutually to use the information
which
has been exchanged.
(source: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92chap12.html )
Notice that here we are talking even of circumvention of technological measures.
Theoretically it would be possible for FGFS to loaf MSFS models, as long as
their original source is not modified. Incidentally, the MSFS format is not
encrypted or protected in any way. It just carries along several model and
copyright limitations that FGFS is probably best left without.
Ciao,
Alessandro
> From: [email protected]
> Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:50:37 -0400
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [Flightgear-devel] Content protection for modders?
>
> Just a comment on something I saw in this discussion regarding the
> DMCA.. Reverse engineering a format for interoperability is only legal
> with express permission from the copyright holder of said format. As
> much as I enjoy RE myself, it is not legal to RE something simply
> because you wish to include it in your program. Not that this has
> much bearing given how the conversation has turned, but I thought that
> needed to be clarified.
>
> cheers,
>
> Rob
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> EMC VNX: the world's simplest storage, starting under $10K
> The only unified storage solution that offers unified management
> Up to 160% more powerful than alternatives and 25% more efficient.
> Guaranteed. http://p.sf.net/sfu/emc-vnx-dev2dev
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EMC VNX: the world's simplest storage, starting under $10K
The only unified storage solution that offers unified management
Up to 160% more powerful than alternatives and 25% more efficient.
Guaranteed. http://p.sf.net/sfu/emc-vnx-dev2dev
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