French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol • Hacker News Board

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#11

Post by nraynaud » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:07 AM UTC

username42 wrote: post #3

Sometimes, we can be proud to be french ;-) For interoperability purpose, "reverse engineering is a legal practice, and that the distribution of software using a protocol found in this way is not illegal"

It's a bit more complicated, you can reverse-engineer if the company is not willing to give the protocol, for interoperability purpose only and you are not allowed to publish the raw information you obtained during the reverse, but only a new interoperable product.

Journalistic treatment has probably distorted the facts so someone should probably go read the actual decision.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#12

Post by weland » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:09 AM UTC

bifrost wrote: post #5

This makes me laugh, mostly because it will alienate the French govt from the US Govt, but also because its basically anti-IP.

> but also because its basically anti-IP.

And, most remarkably, according to the EU legislation which tends to hinder lobbyists, at least once in a blue moon.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#13

Post by macmac » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:12 AM UTC

username42 wrote: post #3

Sometimes, we can be proud to be french ;-) For interoperability purpose, "reverse engineering is a legal practice, and that the distribution of software using a protocol found in this way is not illegal"

There are many reasons to be proud to be French, but since the French law is just an implementation of an EU directive this is hardly one of them.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#14

Post by Fuxy » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:22 AM UTC

Hmm... it seems European law seems to fair a lot better then American law when it comes to attempted abuse by big companies.

I don't know if it's just because the judges are more sane but well done. I think I respect the french slightly more now :)

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#15

Post by pingou » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:23 AM UTC

marincounty wrote: post #9

username42 wrote: post #3

Sometimes, we can be proud to be french ;-) For interoperability purpose, "reverse engineering is a legal practice, and that the distribution of software using a protocol found in this way is not illegal"

I have no problems with your country. Any country that ties traffic infractions to income is fine with me. I heard most of your schooling is free to? The French have a lot we(USA) should look into.

There's no such thing in France, maybe you're mistaken with some Nordic countries?

Edit : I was talking about the traffic fines.

Source : I'm French, which may explain my broken English.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#16

Post by kleiba » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:23 AM UTC

macmac wrote: post #13

username42 wrote: post #3

Sometimes, we can be proud to be french ;-) For interoperability purpose, "reverse engineering is a legal practice, and that the distribution of software using a protocol found in this way is not illegal"

There are many reasons to be proud to be French, but since the French law is just an implementation of an EU directive this is hardly one of them.

Frankly, I never understood why anyone should be proud because they happen to be of a certain nationality.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#17

Post by illumen » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:24 AM UTC

Fuxy wrote: post #14

Hmm... it seems European law seems to fair a lot better then American law when it comes to attempted abuse by big companies. I don't know if it's just because the judges are more sane but well done. I think I respect the french slightly more now :)

The EU company sold skype to an american company. Now they don't care to protect it.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#18

Post by stinos » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:25 AM UTC

kleiba wrote: post #16

macmac wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are many reasons to be proud to be French, but since the French law is just an implementation of an EU directive this is hardly one of them.

Frankly, I never understood why anyone should be proud because they happen to be of a certain nationality.

It's like being proud of coincidence. Weird, but hey, why not?

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#19

Post by username42 » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:26 AM UTC

macmac wrote: post #13

username42 wrote: post #3

Sometimes, we can be proud to be french ;-) For interoperability purpose, "reverse engineering is a legal practice, and that the distribution of software using a protocol found in this way is not illegal"

There are many reasons to be proud to be French, but since the French law is just an implementation of an EU directive this is hardly one of them.

I think the EU directive has been much influenced by the CNIL and the preexisting french laws. The CNIL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNIL) was very influencial 20 years ago. It has lost most of its power now, but its main results remain.

Re: French Court Allows Reverse Engineering of Skype Protocol

#20

Post by moystard » Wed, Oct 23, 2013, 9:35 AM UTC

pingou wrote: post #15

marincounty wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have no problems with your country. Any country that ties traffic infractions to income is fine with me. I heard most of your schooling is free to? The French have a lot we(USA) should look into.

There's no such thing in France, maybe you're mistaken with some Nordic countries? Edit : I was talking about the traffic fines. Source : I'm French, which may explain my broken English.

School is free until high school in France, and university can be considered as free as well, because it is extremely cheap compared to the USA/Canada/UK for example, and because there is plenty of help to students with low resources.