It's entirely too possible, given some self-control by the Dark Side [LWN.net]

It's entirely too possible, given some self-control by the Dark Side

Posted Aug 1, 2005 23:21 UTC (Mon) by Max.Hyre (subscriber, #1054)
In reply to: There's another possibility by felixfix
Parent article: Microsoft's DRM vision

The great unwashed public has better things to do than worry about theoretical hassles in the future. [....] But when they get hit directly by stupidity, they revolt.

If the studios have any self-control, they can take over. MS, Intel, Dell, HP, and friends, will happily sell the HW. Hold off invoking any of the restrictions, and people will buy it. Face it, those following this issue are a very small minority. Most of the public won't hear the warning voices, and those who do won't listen, because it's not affecting them.

Given the replacement rate, courtesy of Moore's Law, two-thirds of the hardware in use will quickly be subverted. (Three years? Five?) If the vultures hold off enforcing the restrictions until then, it'll be too late.

My hope, I believe well-founded, is that the studios won't be able to control their greed, and people will start getting hit while there's still time to reject the hardware.

Max ``who, me paranoid?'' Hyre

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But that misses my point

Posted Aug 1, 2005 23:45 UTC (Mon) by felixfix (subscriber, #242) [Link]

My point is that people WILL revolt, since in all their ignroance, they assume that once they have rented a DVD, they can play it anywhere, any number of times. Sure, if only a few geeks revolt, no one cares. But if even 1% of the Joe Sixpacks call 800 numbers or bring their PCs back to stores, it will destroy the system. Suppose the stores refuse to accept the returned PCs, or the 800 call centers tell them too bad. If even 1% of those who complain follow up with complaints to the PUC or the congress critters, that will get someone's attention.

Look. How many PCs are sold every year? Suppose it's 10 million in one shape or another. Suppose 100,000 (1%) try to take them back or call the 800 number. Suppose 1000 (another 1%) follow up with complaints to the political or legal system. That's a HUGE number. Congress critters don't like getting 1000 complaints. And it wouldn't be long before some class action lawyer smelled the money.

Even lead balloons fly for a short while, given enough launch money.