The Linux kernel and digital rights management [LWN.net]

The Linux kernel and digital rights management

Posted May 1, 2003 3:09 UTC (Thu) by proski (subscriber, #104)
Parent article: The Linux kernel and digital rights management

Today, if somebody reports a bug in an old version of software I maintain, I can ask that person to try the latest version. If people start using my program on systems crippled by DRM, they won't be able to upgrade, and I won't be able to help them even though they would have access to the source code.

To give those users the latest version, somebody (possibly the maintainer) would have to go through the certification process with the hardware vendor. The worst thing is that the certificate issuer would be completely within their rights to remove features from my software before generating the key. They would be able to tell me what I can and what I cannot do if I want my free software to reach users of their platform.

My motivation for writing software is giving other people more choice, more freedom and advancing the progress. DRM could be used to take users' choice, users' freedom, and prevent their access to the new versions of the software, even if the new features were suggested and implemented by those users.

Vendors of DRM systems could be within the rights granted to them by GPL, but they would be in violation of the spirit of free software. If GPL is insufficient to prevent the freedom loss through DRM, another license should be developed that would prevent the use of free software in DRM systems, just like GPL prevents linking free and non-free code for the purpose of redistribution.

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The "spirit of free software" and the GPL

Posted May 1, 2003 8:48 UTC (Thu) by ronaldcole (guest, #1462) [Link]

I've harped on this for many years... The GPL just does not embody the "spirit" of Stallman's Manifesto. I've pointed out to him that the freedom to give away the software is only half-implementing the Manifesto "spec". In order for software to be freely available, like air, you need to be able to ask for it and get it. But Stallman doesn't want to turn free software developers into distributors. And now it's no surprise that DRM seeks to exploit that very hole in the GPL.

The Linux kernel and digital rights management

Posted May 1, 2003 14:32 UTC (Thu) by mrshiny (subscriber, #4266) [Link]

You are right; in one aspect the DRM features will limit users. In order to sign a kernel with a key that is trusted by a copyright-holder you will need to have the kernel certified. But what about just signing a kernel to enable things like virus protection? Maybe you can't give your users a DRM-enabled kernel that lets them download mp3s, but you can give them a signed kernel that is free from trojans.

The Linux kernel and digital rights management

Posted May 1, 2003 15:38 UTC (Thu) by proski (subscriber, #104) [Link]

Why do you think that the copyright holder will do the signing? If the Xbox Linux team wants to run Linux on Xbox, are they asking Linus to sign it? No! They are asking Microsoft, because only Microsoft can put the signature that would allow Xbox to run the kernel.

Linus "does not want to be in a position of saying what can or cannot be done with the Linux kernel", but he could end up in the position when he is told what he can or cannot do with the kernel in order to get certified and enable running Linux on DRM-crippled platforms.

There are better ways to protect software from trojans. I have nothing against warning users that the software has no signature, but I'm against forcing them to use signed software, especially if I wrote the software in the hope that the users will improve it and enjoy the software freedom.