Re: Bug#203498: ITP: decss -- utility for stripping CSS tags from an HTML page.
On Wed, Jul 30, 2003, Emile van Bergen wrote:
> > And what is the point of confusing our users and cluttering the package/
> > executable namespace with a useless program that could be replaced with
> > a sed one-liner?
>
> If it's so easy to type in, I'd have expected it in your response.
Well, I expected someone to ask me this. But I fail to see how showing
off my l33t s3d sk1llz would strenghten my point. The only effect it will
have is people nitpicking at possible caveats for strange HTML syntax
examples, and forgetting the real point which is: that decss program is
utterly useless. I expect anyone with minor common sense and minor sed/
awk/perl/whatever practice to understand the triviality of that program.
> > I object to this ITP. Not very strongly, but I still object.
>
> I think it's a wonderful idea to have a decss package in Debian. If
> Debian cannot distribute the decss that allows Debian users to view DVD
> movies (yet), then distributing this one is a good alternative, I'd say.
This is really no different from the RIAA uploading broken MP3s to
P2P networks so that users think they are real music. (Disclaimer: I am
really not a music piracy advocate, but I strongly believe that such
behaviour has the sole effect of confusing users)
If the DVD decss cannot be distributed and someone wants to fight
this, the solution is to distribute it anyway until it becomes so
widespread that no one can make it disappear.
Regards,
--
Sam.
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