On Saturday, April 17, 2004 2:49 PM [GMT+0800=SGT], Raj Mathur <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> You may not like it but you'd have to live with it. Just as > you have the right to embed security into your software, others > have the right to study, hack and bypass that security. Rights are defined by law, and law may make such "study" illegal. There are no "innate" rights in the Indian Constitution[1]. "Rights" which are granted today may be removed tomorrow[2]. > I think you're missing the important point here -- stealing > music is illegal, but providing tools that MAY be used to steal > music isn't. If we support the banning of tools that may > possibly be used for illegal purposes we'll have to ban just > about everything -- starting with computers, Winduhs, Linux, > gdb, nmap, C compilers, Perl, netstat, ping, mutt, Emacs, > EVERYTHING! > > Remember -- it's not the tool that is illegal, it's the use to > which it is put by an individual that is or is not. True, in general. However, tools may be banned, even if the purpose that they may be used for is not clear, or proven. Examples include the ban of knifes with blades longer than 6 inches[3], the transport of cultures for communicable diseases, etc. Raju, I agree with you fully, and we are in good company, Hume, Franklin, Mills, et al. However, the law is what the law says it is, not what is right, or reasonable. == [1] The US Declaration of Independance states that some rights are "inalienable", and among these are the rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". However, the Declaration has no legal value, the Constitution does, and that "grants rights", not recognizes their existance. [2] cf The right to Property. This was a Fundumental Right under the 1950 Constitution. Look for Section Article 19 (f). Look carefully. Then look at the 44th Amendment. Also, look for Article 31, "Right to Property". [3] Being in possesion of a knife with blade longer than 6 inches is not in itself illegal, but the Court will accept that as evidence adducing against you. Inaccurately but pithily, you are guilty unless you can prove yourself innocent. Similar laws exist about the carrying of "lock picks". -- Sanjeev _______________________________________________ ilugd mailinglist -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://frodo.hserus.net/mailman/listinfo/ilugd Archives at: http://news.gmane.org/gmane.user-groups.linux.delhi http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
