Many consider tinkering (or reverse-engineering) to be an essential ingredient to the innovative process, but many others see it as a tool of the devil. In a 9/26 law.com commentary, Mike Goodwin presents compelling arguments in support of tinkering, a freedom that (like fair use) is not explicitly guaranteed in the Constitution -- but, he suggests, "maybe it should be." Amidst a climate of increasing Hollywood lockdowns (Disney's Eisner is quoted as declaring piracy "a killer app"), this column considers a variety of proposed standards, legislation (e.g. "copyright cop" and "broadcast flag" technology specs) and reports that provoke many questions about the freedoms that many of us currently take for granted.