Fred von Lohmann (EFF) Gets The Idea About Microsoft and DRM!
Why Microsoft is sucking up to Hollywood (and selling us out) | JD Lasica at Darknet has posted an interesting bit from Fred von Lohmann, an EFF attorney. Most of this sounds shocking familiar to points I have argued in the past. Everyone should really take a look.
I agree with almost the entire article, except the “selling us out” part in the title. I still say that Microsoft is thinking of the consumer by developing the framework in their OS to allow the content into the PC.
The other point I don’t agree with is this comment…”(Of course, MSFT may also have its own reasons to want access to Hollywood stuff, insofar as it would distinguish their platform from Linux, which will never play Hollywood DRMd content.)”. I don’t have any good ideas for implementing a secure system for Linux playback, but Microsoft can’t lock anyone else out from developing a system for allow playback. As I have said, the content protection systems designate the bar that must be cleared for a company to ship a product that will allow playback. Microsoft doesn’t play much of a roll (or any role in most cases) in the basic content protection rules. They actually try to get the content owners to open the systems up to allow new features on the PC (and CE devices).
