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Lessig, Stallman on 'Open Source' DRM (The Register)
The Register takes a
look at Sun's press release for its open source DRM, which lists
Lawrence Lessig as a supporter. "Was DRM less bad because it was
'open source'? Professor Lessig tells us that he should have reviewed the
Sun Microsystems press release before it went out. It doesn't fully reflect
his position, he says, and he's emphatic that this blessing doesn't
constitute an endorsement." (Thanks to Ciarán O'Riordan)
(Log in to post comments)
Prof. Lessig has embarrassed himself Posted Apr 18, 2006 22:54 UTC (Tue) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330) [Link] Prof. Lessig really stepped in it, and went for weeks without comment as lots of people demanded an explanation from him. The release from Sun went out quite some time ago with Prof. Lessig's praise for their "open source DRM", and only now, after being beat up by many of his erstwhile allies, does he say that he was taken out of context.
Lessig, Stallman on 'Open Source' DRM (The Register) Posted Apr 19, 2006 5:25 UTC (Wed) by RMetz (guest, #27939) [Link] "he's emphatic that this blessing doesn't constitute an endorsement." That is a weird sentence. I'm pretty sure that blessing something is about as strong an endorsement as one can make.
Lessig, Stallman on 'Open Source' DRM (The Register) Posted Apr 19, 2006 6:12 UTC (Wed) by jayorke (guest, #10685) [Link] Perhaps he blesses the idea of being able to protect content but does not endorse any specific methodology of doing so. I like the idea of being able to show someone a picture and at the same time prevent them from keeping it, copying it, and distributing it. I don't like the idea of something creating an obstacle to my moving content from one maching to another, backing up content, and listening to content I legitimately have the rights to.
Lessig, Stallman on 'Open Source' DRM (The Register) Posted Apr 19, 2006 8:28 UTC (Wed) by job (guest, #670) [Link] Most CC licenses and almost all released material is non-free. Therefore DRM is not much of a hindrance to CC.
These strangely worded regrets (or are they?) is probably because he underestimated how badly most people hate DRM.
Lessig, Stallman on 'Open Source' DRM (The Register) Posted Apr 19, 2006 11:57 UTC (Wed) by smitty_one_each (subscriber, #28989) [Link] DRM is just like many of the other despicable ideas in circulation today; it's important to recognize that "cures" for peoples' fundamental penchant for stupidity are worse than the stupidity itself. I just ask that the DRM be clearly recognizable, and avoidable.For example, getting surprised by a motherboard with DRM in the chips would piss me right off. But if manufactureres can set up an opt-in slave market, should I care? Not as long as the supply of alternatives is preserved.
Lessig, Stallman on 'Open Source' DRM (The Register) Posted Apr 19, 2006 12:34 UTC (Wed) by zotz (guest, #26117) [Link] [Not as long as the supply of alternatives is preserved.]
Ah, but there is a good chance that it will not be preserved. That is going to be our problem if these sorts of things are not stopped some other way.
all the best,
drew
Preserving the supply of alternatives Posted Apr 19, 2006 13:47 UTC (Wed) by Baylink (subscriber, #755) [Link] Interestingly, this is the topic of Spider Robinson's Hugo award winning short story Melancholy Elephants, which, ironically, the author now disclaims -- though he doesn't say why -- in a new book.
Preserving the supply of alternatives Posted Apr 19, 2006 18:50 UTC (Wed) by jhardin@impsec.org (guest, #15045) [Link] > ... Melancholy Elephants, which, ironically, the author now disclaims --> though he doesn't say why ...
A quick Google ( http://www.longstoryshortpier.com/2006/03/01/tood-janey response number 2) implies it's because Virginia Heinlein now has a descendant, so he no longer wants Heinlein's work to go into the public domain. Apparently Spider's own words aren't online where Google can find them.
I love reading Robinson's and Heinlein's work and greatly respect their talent and creativity, but this change of heart seems to me to be sadly hypocritical: taking a position for the good of society, but discarding it as soon as your own personal ox (or that of your personal hero) is at risk of being gored.
Preserving the supply of alternatives Posted Apr 19, 2006 19:11 UTC (Wed) by Baylink (subscriber, #755) [Link] *Great* catch.
I hadn't thought that Robert and Virginia had had any children; how is there a 3 year old around? And whose?
A friend of mine has been on the concom for Necronomicon for about 20 years; they had the Robinsons' a couple years ago -- perhaps he has a channel to ask this question and get an answer.
I'll look into it.
Free alternatives Posted Apr 19, 2006 23:29 UTC (Wed) by man_ls (subscriber, #15091) [Link] Exactly. The whole point of DRM is to build restrictions into all consumer products; if only one of them leaks, then the whole scheme breaks.For example, use of protected PDFs must be limited. There cannot be an "alternative market" for protected PDF viewers which are free software, or soon anyone will be able to print and distribute protected PDFs. The same is true of DVDs, XBox games... and would be true of x86 CPUs or DVI connectors.
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