http://disqus.com/people/9b899219ec901c3ea290c21c394ce57e/enMon, 24 Sep 2007 16:55:44 -0000http://tlf.disqus.com/nick_car_on_fair_use_study/#comment-1452122Research, particularly reverse engineering is always glossed over in fair use discussions and serves as a balance preventing copyright extension to unprotectable elements - "idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery". The effect of defeating this aspect of fair use by political or Orwellian attack is to extend protection under copyright that is greater than that of patents and seriously undermine industry, limiting interoperability and the general advancement of the arts.<br><p><br>Note the lack of commentary in House Report 94-1476 under §107 supporting research, and of the DMCA §1201(f) - Reverse engineering., in House Report 105-796. The balance implied by limits on copyrights is left to the scholar or judiciary without congressional acknowledgment. Should we be surprised if in the future this balance shifts?</p>DKMon, 24 Sep 2007 16:55:44 -0000