Corporate Paws Grab for Desktop (Wired) [LWN.net]

Wired takes a look at how bills like the Digital Millennium Copyright Act have caused some PC manufacturers to build PCs with hardwired copyright protection. "Today, manufacturers seem more likely to produce computers that operate more like VCRs or DVD players than the PCs people are accustomed to. These machines have copy-protection embedded in the hardware, much like home recorders that keep people from making copies of videos they have purchased."

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Corporate Paws Grab for Desktop (Wired)

Posted Sep 9, 2002 17:59 UTC (Mon) by rmdirms (guest, #2659) [Link]

And may they see little to no business! The content produces need to decide whether or not to release their content. Hardware should NOT be the s/w or data protection battle ground. Pretty soon, the harw-wired copy protection will/could be bought by microsoft, and the only "free" (as in property) computers will be from a few rogues who dare to defy mirstoforc.
 I think these mfrs are being paid to make these kinds of hardware, and as hindsight is 20/20, history will eventually connect the dots back to mirforstoc.
 
Just a swag, but it's possible... After all, look at ms media/content and the number of mfrs and web masters lazily or gleefully using it to the detriment and frustration of Linux-or-OpenSource content sites.
 
Yep, there needs to be another ms anti-trust trial...
 
David Syes

Corporate Paws Grab for Desktop (Wired)

Posted Sep 10, 2002 8:11 UTC (Tue) by beejaybee (guest, #1581) [Link]

The only way to counter this is through an information campaign.

We need to persuade consumers, and even more importantly corporate buyers, that locked hardware is not appropriate for PCs. Because it stifles innovation and freedom of choice.

Is there any possibility of publishing a blacklist of locked hardware suppliers so that we can organise a boycott against them? The time to do this is NOW, whilst we still have a choice ... when the possibility of buying equipment from suppliers who don't supply locked hardware has gone, it'll be too late!