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Yes, we can forgive them if a vendor refuses to release specs or source (Broadcom, for example), but implementing their own DRM to prevent others from making co

Yes, we can forgive them if a vendor refuses to release specs or source (Broadcom, for example), but implementing their own DRM to prevent others from making compatible cameras seems hypocritical and needlessly anti-user. Is there some legitimate, user-serving benefit to this move that isn't apparent?

gnarbarian 4y ago
the raspberry pi foundation wants to recoup the cost and profit from the time and money spent to develop the raspberry pi camera software stack this benefits the user by nature of the stack existing. on the other hand now that an ecosystem has sprung up around this it's arguable that the DRM scheme is only needed to bootstrap the community
- BuckyBeaver 4y ago
  Did THEY develop this stack, or did the open-source community?
  - gnarbarian 4y ago
    probably both
    - BuckyBeaver 4y ago
      They have no business locking it down and preventing people from implementing higher-quality cameras, which would only add value to the Pi camera-interface "stack" anyway. No matter how you slice it, it's anti-community and encourages someone to come along and undermine the entire platform... which would REALLY squander the investment made.
      - gnarbarian 4y ago
        I get your point. the problem these days is if you develop a completely open product your design will be copied and your device will be undercut and often beaten to the market by Chinese competitors. How is the pi foundation supposed to make money in order to continue manufacturing and designing computers if they are unable to make any money? donations?
        BuckyBeaver 4y ago
        They're obviously selling computers as fast as they can make them. Locking down an interface on said computers doesn't seem to be protecting their core business; it seems to limit the usefulness of their core business. And make no mistake: I want them to survive and continue to churn out very cool products. I just want a really high-quality (even if "only HD") camera, which would cost much more than what the Pi Foundation is targeting. I don't think it would cannibalize sales from anything they're trying to put out. The Arduino ecosystem seems to have survived being truly open, hasn't it?

gnarbarian 4y ago

the raspberry pi foundation wants to recoup the cost and profit from the time and money spent to develop the raspberry pi camera software stack this benefits the user by nature of the stack existing. on the other hand now that an ecosystem has sprung up around this it's arguable that the DRM scheme is only needed to bootstrap the community

BuckyBeaver 4y ago
Did THEY develop this stack, or did the open-source community?
- gnarbarian 4y ago
  probably both
  - BuckyBeaver 4y ago
    They have no business locking it down and preventing people from implementing higher-quality cameras, which would only add value to the Pi camera-interface "stack" anyway. No matter how you slice it, it's anti-community and encourages someone to come along and undermine the entire platform... which would REALLY squander the investment made.
    - gnarbarian 4y ago
      I get your point. the problem these days is if you develop a completely open product your design will be copied and your device will be undercut and often beaten to the market by Chinese competitors. How is the pi foundation supposed to make money in order to continue manufacturing and designing computers if they are unable to make any money? donations?
      - BuckyBeaver 4y ago
        They're obviously selling computers as fast as they can make them. Locking down an interface on said computers doesn't seem to be protecting their core business; it seems to limit the usefulness of their core business. And make no mistake: I want them to survive and continue to churn out very cool products. I just want a really high-quality (even if "only HD") camera, which would cost much more than what the Pi Foundation is targeting. I don't think it would cannibalize sales from anything they're trying to put out. The Arduino ecosystem seems to have survived being truly open, hasn't it?