There is a difference. Currently, breaking the DMCA for personal use is a civil matter. You can be sued, but you aren't going to go to jail.
This new law makes possession of the tools needed to break copy protection a federal crime with a penalty of up to 10 years in jail.
Based on the same "logic" as the above, they'll be arresting all women for posessing the equipment for being a prostitute.
This new law makes possession of the tools needed to break copy protection a federal crime with a penalty of up to 10 years in jail.
That is the strongest argument against this new bill.
I have already contacted my congressman about this bill, and you should too.
As somebody who has a strong affinity to security protocols and research, it makes my hobby, and some of my work criminal, when all I want to do is make things safer for everyone.
It's not about getting free music/movies/media, it is about being able to use the music/movies/media we have fairly purchased within our rights of "fair use".
If you think this is bad, wait until all your computers have "Trusted Computing" hardware, then we can add our own computers that we no longer fully own.