In a decision with ramifications for reverse engineering of software, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit has affirmed a lower court’s decision to bar “add-on” technology being used to mirror a popular online gaming network.
According to the court, California-based Blizzard Entertainment Inc.’s end-user license agreement was enforceable and had been infringed by copycat online gaming organization BnetD.net and its creators.
EFF website here has more info.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis will hear arguments at 9 a.m. today in this case that may decide how the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, applies to computer software and the important practice of reverse engineering. As you may recall, the charges center on “bnetd,” free software developed to allow individuals to run servers for hosting online versions of popular Blizzard games such as “Diablo II” and “StarCraft.” Blizzard runs its own online service, Battle.net, for those games, but many people have claimed the service is erratic, buggy, and riddled with players who cheat.
