[humorix] Ad Blocking Software Violates DMCA

[James Baughn <jbaughn@ldd.net>]

----
Warning:  humorous content ahead.
To prevent overdosage for the sensitive readers, please
take your discussions to humorix-l@nl.linux.org...
----

Ad Blocking Software Violates DMCA
August 11, 2001

[Editor's Note: Yes, we know, this is yet another article
bashing the DMCA and the US federal government.  Yes, we
know, this is supposed to be a Linux humor site and not a
copyright humor site.  So sue us.  On second thoughts,
please don't sue us.]

Don't look so smug.  You thought you could avoid the
onslaught of pop-over, pop-under, pop-up, pop-sideways, and
pop-in-between advertisements by upgrading to a new browser
that disables the JavaScript window.open command.  You
thought you could return to the Good Old Days of the
pre-commercial Internet by installing a proxy server that
removes all banner ads.

Sorry, but your actions probably violate US federal law.

According to the spokesperson for the Internet Marketing &
Brainwashing Bureau, "Pop-under advertisements make it
extremely difficult to navigate, use, and copy a website. 
They effectively control access to these websites, and
therefore any attempt to defeat or circumvent them
represents a violation of the DMCA."

Let's say you want to visit "Bob's House Of Pr0n".  While
trying to download a copy of "Miss April", three dozen
different advertisement windows appear on your system. 
Some of these windows don't contain any controls for
closing them, effectively blocking valuable real estate on
your screen and obscuring the best part of that JPG you're
trying to view.  And if you do find a way to get rid of
them, they reappear after you load another page, and
eventually your browser leaks enough memory to crash the
system.

Thus, these pop-up advertisements effectively control
access to the copyrighted material.  

So there.  Go directly to jail.  Do not pass go.  Do not
collect $200.

-
Humorix:      Linux and Open Source(nontm) on a lighter note
Archive:      http://mail.nl.linux.org/humorix/
Web site:     http://www.i-want-a-website.com/about-linux/