[Gormo]

Because the CSS code was there for the purpose of preventing unauthorized duplication of content, not to restrict people's ability to control the functioning of their DVD players.

Regarding printer cartridges, there have already been court rulings [1] that have determined that "jailbreaking" them isn't a violation of the DMCA, making the distinction specifically on the basis of whether the the element of the product being protected is "creative" or "functional". So we already know from case law that the DMCA doesn't actually prohibit people from circumventing functional lock-outs.

[1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexmark_Int%27l_v._Static_Contr...