From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id S262231AbTD3RdS (ORCPT ); Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:33:18 -0400 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id S262253AbTD3RdS (ORCPT ); Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:33:18 -0400 Received: from buttons.universal-fasteners.com ([205.138.133.26]:24276 "HELO universal-fasteners.com") by vger.kernel.org with SMTP id S262231AbTD3RdR (ORCPT ); Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:33:17 -0400 Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 13:45:38 -0400 From: Jim Penny To: Larry McVoy Cc: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org Subject: Re: Why DRM exists [was Re: Flame Linus to a crisp!] Message-ID: <20030430174538.GL939@universal-fasteners.com> References: <20030430135919.GB32300@work.bitmover.com> <20030430172107.GA25347@work.bitmover.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20030430172107.GA25347@work.bitmover.com> User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.4i Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org On Wed, Apr 30, 2003 at 10:21:07AM -0700, Larry McVoy wrote: > So I don't agree that the DRM stuff is all about protecting audio/video > content at all, I think it goes much further than that. Maybe I'm > wrong, maybe DRM isn't all about that, but the point remains that there > is lots of activity in the directions I'm describing and whether it > falls under DRM, DMCA, Trusted Computing, Palladium, of BuzzWord2000, > the activity exists. And I think it exists at least in part because > of the threat of the open source reimplementations. I'm starting to > think I'm the only person on this list who thinks that, that may be, > but in the business world that I move in pretty much everyone thinks that. But the timeline is simply wrong. DMCA is an implementation of the WIPO TRIPS treaties, which was passed in 1996, well before open-source was a common topic. See http://www.public-domain.org/wipo/dec96/dec96.html In particular, note the EFF comment and the comment by "Software Developers". Even these most relevant sources simply did not raise the issue. DRM is another issue. I think it is primarily an effect of the Hollywood reality distortion field. They think that useful computers that are not Turing complete can be built; and if such machines cannot be built, well, Hollywood thinks that digital communication is error free and occurs without charge and with infinite bandwidth at infinite distance, putting them permanently out of business. Jim Penny