5 ms·

Or we simply break all forms of DRM protection, like we've done in the past?

by robinh 14y ago

jiggy2011 14y ago
Breaking DRM doesn't seem to be effective in terms of stopping people trying to apply it. The issue is not so much the DRM itself but how invasive the software is. For example the ultimate form of DRM is the iOS style where code must be explicitly white listed by some authority in order to execute. This is potentially bad for all kinds of reasons that are nothing to do with piracy.
- youngerdryas 14y ago
  The trusted platform model has its advantages and not everyone wants to root their phone. I've never understood the argument that the world would be freer if we banned iOS.
  - jiggy2011 14y ago
    It's not that trusted platform models do not have their advantages (indeed they could be used to implement systems that are "freer") or that we need to ban iOS. However any system that relies on absolute centralised trust is vulnerable in a variety of ways. For example if you were to develop a system that allows for secure , encrypted communications between 2 parties such as GPG. The platform vendor can enforce a policy that any such software must include a backdoor for their own use, that of law enforcement or for their advertising partners. Whether such a policy is implemented now or not is not so much the issue, it is that such a policy could very easily be enforced in the future. As long as open platforms are viable and available the issue is less urgent since people can opt to use these instead. However when you have powerful companies with lobbying might such as the various content industries who have their own reasons for preferring such a model it becomes a little scary.
    - anoncow 14y ago
      i can understand why people hate walled gardens. An open sw/hw system would have meant growth opportunities for more people and companies rather than just apple. We have a little bit more open system with android but with all the locked bootloaders on android devices we could do better.
DanBC 14y ago
Criminal offence in the UK. (With theoretical 5 year sentence, not sure what you'd need to do to get that actual sentence though.)

Or we simply break all forms of DRM protection, like we've done in the past?

by robinh 14y ago

Or we simply break all forms of DRM protection, like we've done in the past?

jiggy2011 14y ago

Breaking DRM doesn't seem to be effective in terms of stopping people trying to apply it. The issue is not so much the DRM itself but how invasive the software is. For example the ultimate form of DRM is the iOS style where code must be explicitly white listed by some authority in order to execute. This is potentially bad for all kinds of reasons that are nothing to do with piracy.

youngerdryas 14y ago
The trusted platform model has its advantages and not everyone wants to root their phone. I've never understood the argument that the world would be freer if we banned iOS.
- jiggy2011 14y ago
  It's not that trusted platform models do not have their advantages (indeed they could be used to implement systems that are "freer") or that we need to ban iOS. However any system that relies on absolute centralised trust is vulnerable in a variety of ways. For example if you were to develop a system that allows for secure , encrypted communications between 2 parties such as GPG. The platform vendor can enforce a policy that any such software must include a backdoor for their own use, that of law enforcement or for their advertising partners. Whether such a policy is implemented now or not is not so much the issue, it is that such a policy could very easily be enforced in the future. As long as open platforms are viable and available the issue is less urgent since people can opt to use these instead. However when you have powerful companies with lobbying might such as the various content industries who have their own reasons for preferring such a model it becomes a little scary.
  - anoncow 14y ago
    i can understand why people hate walled gardens. An open sw/hw system would have meant growth opportunities for more people and companies rather than just apple. We have a little bit more open system with android but with all the locked bootloaders on android devices we could do better.

DanBC 14y ago

Criminal offence in the UK. (With theoretical 5 year sentence, not sure what you'd need to do to get that actual sentence though.)