At first glance it looks non-threatening and as if ESA-type rules/laws are loosening, however, on closer examination it seems as if nothing in particular has changed. I think the most important part of that particular clause is this -
Quote:
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when circumvention is accomplished for the purpose of preservation or archival reproduction of published digital works by a library or archive.[/b]
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This is a particularly nasty sentence bacause I believe that it leaves
lots of room for re-interpretation by nasty corporate and ESA lawyers. Where I believe that Abandonia could easily be classed as an archive, providing the downloads of the games in question for distribution (although free)
could be argued as being against the terms of this determination, because although the games are exempt from copyright laws due to their running on obselete hardware, they are still under copyright - so as usual, it's up to the parent companies to decide if they want to bring the hammer down on Abandonia.
Doesn't look like much has changed to me - Abandonia still lives in the grey area
