Comment "Open" DRM (Score 2, Interesting) 579
Repeat after me: There is no such thing as open DRM.
Yes, you can distribute the algorithms openly, but in the end every single DRM system is going to be based on secret encryption keys. It is a felony in the United States for you to read/use such encryption keys for most purposes. This is how DRM works; because it cannot work in any other way, it depends on outlawing certain types of computation to undermine the general-purpose nature of computers. This is done via the DMCA in the United States.
Repeat after me: The only reason for DRM is to eliminate general-purpose computers, and to replace them with futuristic televisions. Why are all of the media industries so scared? Because finally, individual human beings all over the world are able to create and distribute information freely. Up until a few years ago, those media industries had a stranglehold on distribution of information. Everything was broadcast-only. Everything came from a few centralized sources.
DRM is their last hope to outlaw a future that's missing all-powerful information distributors. It is their last hope to turn computers into interactive TVs.
Don't be fooled by DRM that pretends to be "open" or "decentralized." By its very definition, DRM is always closed and centralized -- even if on the legislative level rather than the software level.
As for the inevitable cries of, "DRM has positive uses for system administration and security!": There is no good use of DRM which cannot be achieved with equal ease entirely in user-controlled software. So why don't you put your energy into making easy-to-use encryption systems, and enabling them by default in your applications, instead of scheming to make general-purpose computation illegal?
Yes, you can distribute the algorithms openly, but in the end every single DRM system is going to be based on secret encryption keys. It is a felony in the United States for you to read/use such encryption keys for most purposes. This is how DRM works; because it cannot work in any other way, it depends on outlawing certain types of computation to undermine the general-purpose nature of computers. This is done via the DMCA in the United States.
Repeat after me: The only reason for DRM is to eliminate general-purpose computers, and to replace them with futuristic televisions. Why are all of the media industries so scared? Because finally, individual human beings all over the world are able to create and distribute information freely. Up until a few years ago, those media industries had a stranglehold on distribution of information. Everything was broadcast-only. Everything came from a few centralized sources.
DRM is their last hope to outlaw a future that's missing all-powerful information distributors. It is their last hope to turn computers into interactive TVs.
Don't be fooled by DRM that pretends to be "open" or "decentralized." By its very definition, DRM is always closed and centralized -- even if on the legislative level rather than the software level.
As for the inevitable cries of, "DRM has positive uses for system administration and security!": There is no good use of DRM which cannot be achieved with equal ease entirely in user-controlled software. So why don't you put your energy into making easy-to-use encryption systems, and enabling them by default in your applications, instead of scheming to make general-purpose computation illegal?
