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Re: [News] DRM Harms Linux, OSS Innovation

In comp.os.linux.advocacy, Roy Schestowitz
<newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 wrote
on Mon, 19 Jun 2006 04:44:02 +0100
<7790942.cN40xs6yOX@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:
> DRM may harm open source innovation
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
> | Scott believes the DRM provisions have already created an environment of
> | risk and that Australians are reluctant to engage in digital publishing
> | because of it. For example, most Linux distributors are "so scared of
> | being sued" they don't include DVD playing software.
> `----
>
> http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;114664212;fp;2;fpid;1

But do they help corporate profits?  I have my doubts on that too,
especially after Sony's debacle therewith.

Sounds to me like a bad idea, badly implemented.  Still, DRM is
attractive, since it protects -- or attempts to protect -- against
rampant piracy in the music, video, and software markets, a piracy
that is a reflection of differing viewpoints between:

* the "right to know/trade secrets" viewpoint, where one
  is only allowed access to information after one has
  properly paid for it, at whatever price the seller wants.

* the "right to copy" viewpoint, which allows for
  information transfer whenever anyone can make a
  duplicable copy -- and software, along with digital
  media, is extremely easy to duplicate, indeed *must*
  be duplicated prior to use, as the head reading from a
  disk drive or CD is copying the data into the driver's
  cache/cable so that the machine can interpret it through
  the video/sound system and ultimately copied again
  into the monitor screen/speakers.  This duplication is
  transitory but can be easily changed into something that
  isn't, barring protection schemes such as region codes
  and DRM.

It's a little weird paying $0.05 for the CD and $19.90 (or more,
for software!) for the content, isn't it? :-)

-- 
#191, ewill3@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Windows Vista.  Because it's time to refresh your hardware.  Trust us.

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