Apocolypse Now, Digital Rights Management 1.0

[Zmid]

Well Im running SuSE linux so I don't really care <well i do but it really doesn't apply to me>. I Feel soooo sorry for you Micro$oft users though. :rolleyes: :P

Yes, but it does actually affect you as well, because, if this goes ahead, most, if not all, companies will more or less be forced to use the TCPA system, so it will be almost impossible to get programs and/or hardware that does not use TCPA or will run on non-TCPA compliant systems, so you will only be fine if you plan to never upgrade your PC and never get another piece of software ever again after this is introduced.

[Marxist ßastard]

Yup, if legislation is passed, all the major Linux distributions will have to include client ends for DRM and make all their little applications TCPA-enabled.

 

And since Linux is still mainly a server OS, this will probably happen much sooner than anybody who uses Linux strictly for a home PC can anticipate.

[thanateros]

That's rather scary as a matter of fact, not only does this completely limit the possibility of manipuating an OS to a users' preference it freaking broadcasts information all over the place. Furthermore, if it got passed it would mean the federal government would have the authority to control and monitor your PC usage, thus completely destroying the purpose of personal computers. I for one, if this ever came about which I'm sure bits of it will, will go out and buy a MAC.

 

Who in their right mind would support something like that who actaully owns a computer and uses it frequently. If this ever happens, I'll just be thankful to have a copy of windows XP and ME lying around.

[Marxist ßastard]

I don't think you get my point... If legislation is passed, ALL systems will be required to be TCPA-enabled, including Macs. Apple is already using DRM in iTunes.

[Peregrine]

Actually, a law like that is the least likely threat, because it will never survive in court. Think about who's behind this idea. Yes, major corporations that already have a dominant share of the market. Essentially, a law like that would grant them absolute monopoly power. Anyone wanting to do something in the computer industry would have to deal with them, and whatever price they decide to ask. Which would absolutely destroy competition, especially for smaller businesses. The people that write small programs (graphics plugins, file converters, etc) would be completely killed off by this. A single person making a file converter in their spare time is not going to have the money to pay for this. Same with hardware. Now if you want to compete with the dominant manufacturer, you have to pay them or its illegal. And if microsoft doesn't want Apple to have it, they don't get it, and suddenly their business is illegal. Alll you have to do is look at who wins and loses here. Established businesses win, the competition loses. Thankfully we have laws against this kind of stuff, and mandatory TCPA is a clear violation of them. And that's even ignoring the issues of censorship, lack of privacy, and loss of control over personal property. Which are far from small, and if abused, would be clear justification for banning tcpa. The only way a law like that, and a lot of TCPA in general, could survive is if the corporations use their money to manipulate the system into giving them what they want. And as I said, its a suicide bill for any politician who votes for it. How many voters are going to reelect someone with a clear history of taking away their rights in favor of corporate profits?

 

The real threat is a very simple one:

Parke's Law: People (as a whole) are idiots.

The average person who uses their computer for email, reports, and occasional internet searching, is NOT going to care about this, or even notice a difference. All they're going to see is the pro-TCPA propaganda. I mean, it stops viruses, and who can argue that copyright enforcement is a bad thing? THAT is all the average person is going to see of it. That and the "experts" saying that you need it. So all it takes is a little distortion of the truth, and by the time anyone even thinks about the problems, its so deeply a part of life that its too late.

 

Thankfully though, there is competition. Since mandatory TCPA will never happen, anyone not in the elite group that's getting market control from it will likely shift to selling to those of us who are sane enough to avoid TCPA. I mean, the only thing keeping me using windows is that my games and graphics programs are windows only. If the people with any serious computer knowledge go over to the competition when TCPA becomes common, the software will follow. Microsoft may get the market for the average person who doesn't really use their computer, but Apple/Linux/etc will be there for the rest of us. But its still going to be one giant mess, no matter how you look at it.

[Marxist ßastard]

Peregrine:

 

...who can argue that copyright enforcement is a bad thing?

 

Try Richard Stallman and millions of satisfied Kazaa users...

[HeLLL]

Ummm Linux is NOT a server OS <although it can be used for the said reason> It was created AS a desktop OS instead of the propriety UNIX <which is a server OS primarily>.

 

Also I don't no how you think that this will affect Linux as such as this is a Windows "idea". If certain hardware is made with this TCPA it will be hacked. Heck I use a Winmodem under linux because someone made a hack that emulates the windows calls to the modem. Also since basically 90% of programs for linux are made by indivduals <or as a group not affilated by any company for example> this will not apply. You can't force someone to write there code different to implement TCPA. What would they be infringing when all code under the GPL has to be made avaible. As far as I can see from this; it is a Windows problem. The Linux community is an open source community. rember hardwar dongles??? Where there is a will there is a hack.

 

Also this is a American issue. Remember your laws DO NOT AFFECT ME. I AM NOT AN AMERICAN CITZEN. Example the RIAA has NO power in New Zealand to do anything. If this did happen. Compaines would just pack up and move there operation overseas to a country that did not have the TCPA laws.

[Marxist ßastard]

Helll:

 

Also this is a American issue. Remember your laws DO NOT AFFECT ME.

 

Last time I checked, New Zealand isn't completely self-contained in terms of software, nor is it self-sustained in terms of hardware. Most of the former will be TCPA-enabled, and virtually all of the latter will have DRM built-in. AMD and Intel, which almost certainly make up the vast majority of the processor market, are rabid supporters of TCPA. If the box on their new Pee Five says that viruses will simply cease to exist, people will take to it like sheep.

 

Also, this is not simply an American issue. If legistation is passsed here, that legislation will inevitably spread, because, as it has been stated, people are idiots, especially those who hold power. If your grand supreme overlord decides that if all computers are DRM, all viruses simply disappear, legislation will be passed in kangaroo land.

[ThetaOrionis01]

Well, if the privacy infringement is illegal in other countries, then there will be trade implications. And somehow, I can't see the UK (or France :lol:) allowing that kind of 'big brother' software.

 

That means, TCPA-enabled software would be illegal here, and probably in much of the rest of Europe too. Do you think Microsoft etc would just give up on the international market?

[Peregrine]

As Marxist ßastard said, what happens here is going to have effects everywhere. Look at who provides the overwhelming majority of basic software/hardware. American companies, who would be forced by law to comply with TCPA. So unless 1) you never plan to upgrade, or 2) a competing industry suddenly appears that can match the quality, you're going to have to deal with American laws. And yes, they could move operations out of the country, but why? The leading corporations support TCPA, and I doubt that many of the others will want to give up on the American PC market by leaving.

 

And for what you said about Linux getting around it. Well, if mandatory TCPA laws are passed, forget about it. Hacking the copy protection? Illegal. Distributing open source software at all? Illegal. Selling/distributing Linux without paying microsoft for the TPCA technology? Illegal. Yes, it might still happen, but its going to be a lot fewer people doing it.

 

"You can't force someone to write there code different to implement TCPA"

Actaully, that's the whole point of the proposed laws! You will have to comply with TCPA, or you're breaking the law. That is what's so scary about this, and why I hope that for once the courts would be able to see around corporate money's influence and do the right thing.

 

"...who can argue that copyright enforcement is a bad thing?

Try Richard Stallman and millions of satisfied Kazaa users... "

Yes, I can see that excessive copyright enforcement at the cost of our rights is a bad thing. But try telling that to the average person who doesn't know the full details on TCPA. All they're going to see is the pro-TCPA propaganda that says "enforces copyright laws". And they're not going to see anything wrong with it, since "the only people that would be hurt are the criminals". There are going to be a lot of people fooled by that argument, and once they see the true results, it'll be too late.