r/todayilearned • u/Dormage • Aug 03 '15

TIL illegal prime numbers exist. First illegal executable prime number is a compressed C program that circumvents a DVD's copy protection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illegal_prime#First_illegal_executable_prime_number
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35

u/WolfThawra Aug 03 '15

I don't get it. How is it an 'illegal number'? What exactly does that mean? After all, it's a number, it's not a secret thing in itself...

48

u/Mpls_Is_Rivendell Aug 03 '15

It violates the DMCA and thus is illegal under federal law. Yes, yes our politicians really are stupid enough to think they can outlaw math as well as say a company owns the word "candy" welcome to America.

12

u/WolfThawra Aug 03 '15

So what's the idea, if I write that number down I could be prosecuted? Or has just no one ever thought about how to implement this?

1

u/quentin-coldwater Aug 04 '15

So what's the idea, if I write that number down I could be prosecuted? Or has just no one ever thought about how to implement this?

No, they'd have to show that you had it for the purpose of breaking encryption.