[lug] Re: NOT talking about DRM

[Bear Giles]

Collins Richey wrote:
> 2. The other DRM is far from a lame topic, but rather an essential
> antagonist to freedom in software.
>   
It's an antagonist to FREEDOM.  There are (at least two) big problems 
that TPTB can use DRM to squelch:

1) independent content providers.  You might be an eloquent speaker, but 
if you can't get out because you don't have the necessary DRM 
fingerprints (and are thus presumed to be illegal copies, no appeals 
permitted) then you're back on the street corner soapbox.  Only this 
time there's no sidewalk since everyone drives, and the Towne Square 
Centre is a corporation that can and will kick you out.

This might sound extreme, but there was some concern with HDMI sets.  
Could proud parents send copies of their kid's piano recital to the 
grandparents?  Or would they be flagged as illegal copies from 
consumer-grade equipment and the grands would only get a blank blue screen?

2) independent witnesses.  We're already starting to see this -- cops 
threatening people photographing them.  The law is clear -- it's a 
public space.  On top of that, it's clearly in the public interest to 
know that the police are abusing their authority.  But it's hard to 
argue with a man with a gun.  Or a taser, in an era when cops don't have 
problems repeatedly tasing people for just having an attitude, without 
regard to obvious physical incapacitation, etc.  And how do we know 
about these abuses?... independent witnesses with video gear.

I agree that the DRM debate has mostly been over fluff, but there's some 
incredibly serious stuff going on if you get past the RIAA/MPAA.

BTW, there is an analogue to linux and free software in general.  I 
started working shortly before the Gnu project was launched.  It 
confused a lot of people since there was no company behind the 
software.  Not a university either.  It was just there... freaky.  
Imagine how things would have turned out if there were a few modest, 
entirely reasonable, legal requirements on software and software 
distribution.  Really minor stuff, really.  Unless you're not a 
for-profit business, and you aren't an accredited university.  Just 
enough to strangle free software in the crib.