Hacking How is leaking keys illegal?

[Deleted member 370671]

I asked this question some time ago in some random 3DS thread, but never got any answer, so... this is a sort of bump

Anyway, as the title implies, can someone explain to me why leaking keys is illegal? How can a chain of 32 (or 64, or 128, etc) characters be copyrighted?

And let's say I encrypt one of my hard drives. By luck, the key I used to encrypt my HDD is the exact same as the 3DS' common key (I know the probability for this to happen is insanely low). Then, I share this key on the Internet. Would it be illegal, since I don't know that this is the 3DS' key?
Then, if some time later the entire Internet is aware that this key is the same as the 3DS', will Nintendo be able to sue me for sharing my hard drive encryption key?

I know this question is probably a bit weird, but it's been on my mind for some time, and I couldn't find the answer anywhere

(and sorry if this is not the right place for this thread to be posted, I can't really see where I should have put it)

 

[Filo97]

it's because ninty copyrighted EVERYTHING! even some hexadecimal string

 

[mgrev]

tbh i am also wondering. but if they cannot sue you for sharing your hdd encryption key even though it is the same as the 3ds encryption key, can't we just find the 3ds encryption keys, then use that on a hdd. then it is the hdd enc key. that couldn't be how it's working

 

[Dartz150]

Cause it will open all the coyrighted stuff, wich isn't good for them obviously.

 

[Shinitai]

http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/entry/23

A long read, but it will explain everything.

 

[Deleted member 370671]

.

 

[Ryccardo]

As I see them, keys are not copyrighted, because they're not the product of a creative work.

They're (allegedly) generated from machine-generated random numbers and algorithms, neither of which have "originality" (for this same reason, the current Microsoft logo - four squares - isn't copyrighted either)!

This of course is thinking about "classic" copyright, I'm sure the DMCA has some excuse...

 

[Conn0r]

BTW, if you encrypt your hard drive, don't share the keys and algorithm to the entire internet.

 

[Goombi]

http://ansuz.sooke.bc.ca/entry/23

A long read, but it will explain everything.

That's too long but I got the idea. Origin is accountable but computer science cannot keep track of it by design, creating the confusion. Seems fair.
Interesting read nevertheless, thanks, might get back at it later.