Tag: dmca

Nikon NEF image handcuffs

Nikon recently released a new digital SLR camera named the D2X. They have their own RAW file format named NEF which can be used to save images with no loss of quality, allowing the photographer greater control of the photo once it’s on his computer. Nikon provides software to load NEF files, but only for the Windows platform. The NEF file format has since been reverse engineered by various people, which allows the use of it in other non-Nikon and non-Windows software.

Nikon did something underhand with this new camera. They now encrypt the white balance data in the NEF file, the intention being to prevent reverse engineering. Remember, this is meta-data about photos taken by the photographer; the creator and copyright holder of the photo. Nikon seem to think they own it this meta-data.
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