Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by Confusion on Sunday December 02, 2018 @12:10PM
(#18583185)
You are not allowed to circumvent paywalls, just like you are not allowed to circumvent locks, no matter how easy they are to circumvent. As far as I have always understood, you may publish a locksmithing guide, even an “entering your home when locked out” guide, but not a “how to commit burglary” guide.
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Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by Sacho on Monday December 03, 2018 @02:42AM
(#18587036)
It seems that there is a Canadian case that confirms the validity of paywalls as a "technical protection measure". While in the case, the circumvention was social(obtain copy from another subscriber), I doubt circumventing it via user agent spoofing would fare better.
Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by justinph on Sunday December 02, 2018 @02:23PM
(#18583983)
A paywall is not a lock. It is code that someone else wants to ship to my computer to run. It's up to me to decide what parts of it I run or not.
Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by Confusion on Sunday December 02, 2018 @02:32PM
(#18584035)
No, it’s not. The jurisprudence is pretty clear.
Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by fiatjaf on Sunday December 02, 2018 @03:36PM
(#18584422)
the jurisprudence of whom? In my own jurisprudence paywalls are viruses.
Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by Confusion on Sunday December 02, 2018 @03:43PM
(#18584463)
The US of course. Look at the list of sites the plugin works for: none of them cares if you ignore their paywall. The likelihood that you would subscribe is negligible. It’s American readers they are after. And for them the jurisprudence is clear. No deliberate subversion of access controls allowed.
Re:Mozilla hit with takedown request for anti-paywall addons
by jobigoud on Monday December 03, 2018 @12:42AM
(#18586597)
If that's the case Mozilla has no business banning the addon for everyone...