Technology Liberation Front - Latest Comments in The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

Stan — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 17:25:41 -0000

Couple of points.

CableLabs will consider any product for certification, the requirement is that you need to supply nearly 30 copies of the product and pay a significant (read, multi 10's of k $$) fee.

Consumers will need a certified PC *if* they intend to legally use the PC as their cable STB.

-s

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

short url — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 05:27:55 -0000

ddbeafedf2d5 Hello! http:/0zu.tw/ short url

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

Phillip — Thu, 02 Mar 2006 19:33:17 -0000

sueuolicdhe femb

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

naiserie — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 17:23:11 -0000

Yay, more reasons not to use MS!!!

Seriously though, very few people will bend over for this sort of thing. Who is going to drop money on a brand new machine immediately simply because it's "certified"?

Moreover, it's only a matter of time before the protection is cracked...someone somewhere will code the bios/firmware enabling those of us who prefer to continue using XP or *nix to view/record despite the DRM. Then we'll get more of the same "piracy is bankrupting hollywood" drivel.

As evidenced by reactions to this story (and the ongoing DRM drama generally), I don't think this sort of strategy from MS will payoff in the long run. Consumers want flexibility with their content, and one way or another ("illegally" if need be) most of us will have it. Statements regarding restricted usage from MS and others are direct challeges to teh haxxors out there, and more often than not, teh haxxors win.

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

Luis Villa — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:26:06 -0000

See also these notes on a MS VP's talk in London, where apparently the MS rep said that DRM will be licensed only to major players: "We don't want this technology to be available to every hobbyist. We need to keep the number of licensees down to a manageable number. We charge a license fee to keep the number of people we have to deal with down to a level we can handle." It is clear that DRM (both from MS and Apple) is an anti-competitive device for hardware and software makers as much or more so than it is an anti-competitive move on the part of the entertainment industry.

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

Tim — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 14:20:16 -0000

Fixed, thanks!

Re: The DMCA versus Computer Hobbyists

metapundit — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 13:34:30 -0000

Both those links go to a login page... You wanted http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060131-6...