[ale] OT: hexing files

[aaron]

On Monday 13 October 2003 23:24, matty91 at bellsouth.net wrote:
> On Mon, 13 Oct 2003, Stephen Turner wrote:
> > hey forgive my ignorance i havent been able to get into hex editing or
> > assembly but cant you hex edit a file to ignor the registration code?
> 
> You can, it is easy to do, but it is illegal (reverse engineering
> commercial software is illegal, and may have DMCA implications
> depending on the offense).
[snip]
> If you are just curious how this is done, and don't plan to use
> this information incorrectly, take  a look at "Hacker Disassembling
> Uncovered," and chapter five in "Hack Proofing Your Network."
>  I am not in any way shape or form condoning software piracy.
> These are great resources for seeing how pirates break copy protection, and
> can be very valuable resources for protecting the software YOU spent your
> time and money to write.

Though I'm not a lawyer and don't even play one on TV, I'm pretty sure 
attempting to own or read either of the texts mentioned above is also a 
violation of the DMCA. It may even be that sending an email with the titles 
is a violation, as well as discussing what might be a violation of the 
DMCA... or am I confusing these points with the U.S.A. Patricide Act?  All 
this draconian legislation is becoming such an inbred blur these days...
 ;-)

peace
aaron