Re: [OS:N:] Legislation threatening Open ...

Chris Spencer <CSpencer <at> CAIT.org> Sez:
<<Most of these new laws are aimed at preventing people from gaining access to
copyrighted materials.  Think outside the box.>>

<<It's important to remember that the laws don't keep 'developers' from 
looking at
the source and with the Open Source products....everyone is a developer.>>

The fear is that being "outside the box" will itself become restricted..  The 
trust of many of these ideas seems to be to make personal computers just 
another link in the "trusted device" chain between the "content industries" 
and consumers.  In that world normal consumers can only buy tv 
sets/computers/video games that "consume" content created by "content 
providers"  those providers in turn use "Profesional Grade" equipment, which 
is perhaps under some sort of restrictive licence.   Many theatrical movies 
are shot with a "Panaflex" (&trade;) camera, But even Ted Turner has to rent 
one from Panavison(&trade;) if he wants to use one. Same thing with A 
Dolby(&trade;) 5.1(&trade;) ENcoder.

<<I support the rights of developers and content providers to make copyrighted
materials.  I just am no longer supporting most of those people.  Particularly
those people that try to make stupid laws to stifle innovation and freedom.>>

The Fear is that the only computers legaly available to a consumer in North 
America will end up being "locked down" to the point they will only be able 
to boot an "authorised" OS and the licence status of every file on the hard 
drive (if the unit even allows local storage) will be checked every time you 
try to use the file.  The only folks who are allowed to develop that software 
are under a NDA/contract with the authorised OS provider.  All in the name of 
having a filter that detects watermarks if you try to use digital "content" 
in ways that the producer has not specificaly authorised.

Remember that even now "server" class machines  generaly only have FCC 
approval for use in Office locations.  (I know that many folks ignore that 
requirment.)  In the worst case, our existing software would only work on 
existing machines - machines that you could no-longer legaly buy or sell.

(I am only expresing my own opinion here.  Perhaps the folks who I have been 
talking about are even more pesimistic than I am.  I don't think their is 
anyone who is against folks being paid for what they do if that is their 
wish, the fear is that by using technology to enforce "DRM" the ability to 
use our personal computers as tools for communications and creativity may be 
comprimised. )

Charles MacDonald - Labour Information Management
charles.macdonald <at> hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
< My own Opinion unless Otherwise Credited >

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