[pjc50]

Ah, Elsevier.

It's probably not that difficult to reverse-engineer and extract the decryption keys, but doing so opens you up to DMCA risks.

[lozenge]

I don't think the DMCA would apply, as presumably you own the copyright of whatever's in the database. You would need EFF or other support to prove it though...

[black_puppydog]

On the other hand, it's gonna be hard to even detect if you just use it to import your collection to Zotero.

[pygy_]

Portability is explicitly mentioned as an exception to the "no RE" clauses of the DMCA, so I wouldn't expect any charge to stick, but I don't expect that fact to deter Elsevier from suing anyway, out of spite.