It appears that the US has acted on copyright issues regarding damaged/broken dongles. It would appear that it is now legal to use software dongle removal "patches" on your legally purchased software if your dongle is broken, providing that you cannot purchase a replacement dongle.
me
****************** "He granted two exemptions dealing with computer obsolescence. For computer software and video games that require machines no longer available, copy-protection controls may be circumvented for archival purposes. Locks on computer programs also may be broken if they require dongles ? small computer attachments ? that are damaged and can't be replaced."(
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