Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Ed Felten About Watermarking Analysis And More

Posted by timothy on from the princedom-by-the-sea dept.

Dr. Edward Felten is in a funny position -- or perhaps not so funny. He's the Princeton researcher who took up the challenge posed by the music industry to find flaws in the SMDI watermarking scheme, but didn't enter into the 'no-telling' bargain (here's the click-through agreement [pdf]) which would have made him eligible for a reward, so wasn't bound by non-disclosure terms. When a scheduled academic presentation on the weaknesses [pdf] that he and his colleages found in SDMI became the object of lawsuit threats from the RIAA, and caused him to cancel the planned presentation, Felten decided to turn the tables, and in cooperation with the EFF, sue them instead, for interfering with his scholarly research. Though he did eventually get to present his research, the legal action is still going. Dr. Felten is at a hearing today in Trenton, NJ, but he's agreed to answer questions from Slashdot readers. Please confine your questions carefully (one per post), and we'll pass the highest-moderated ones on for his answers.

6 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. How scary is the RIAA? by Philbert+Desenex · · Score: 0, Troll

    I've heard at various times that the RIAA has some mob connections (you know, like the Teamsters, wink wink, nudge nudge). Sure, threats of lawsuits are enough to keep a fellow up late at night, but how scary is the RIAA, really?

  2. Control is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    Most consumers are too stupid to think for themselves. I think that it is good for the companies to do the thinking for them, and to hold their hand at ever stage of the day and help them make the decision on whether or not to buy a coke or a pepsi.

    Stupid people shouldn't have any rights. They do stupid things and they make life crap for intelligent people. Until intelligent people can make themselves a giant park with no stupid people nearby, intelligent people will have to control stupid people by changing the law and making them watch more TV.

    Down with stupid people! Witless people have no rights! They are happy to trade freedom for safety, and they deserve neither! Scum!

    1. Re:Control is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
      I forgot a question in that statement of pure fact.

      Q: Do you think that all stupid people who are willing to give away their freedom (privacy, rights, etc) in order to gain safety should be shot?

  3. Why did you do it? by Exmet+Paff+Daxx · · Score: 0, Troll

    Dear Ed,
    It's clear to almost everyone that your lawsuit was nothing but an attempt to set up the RIAA. The RIAA has been nothing if not exceptionally clear about the fact that they never intended nor attempted to suppress anyone's research.

    My question is: Why? What was your actual motiviation? Were you just trying to cause a ruckus, or were you attempting to further some political agenda?

    --
    If guns kill people, then CmdrTaco's keyboard misspells words.
  4. A qestion about reality by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Whay is Cmdr Taco a fag? Why does my black maid always streal my watermelon? Why doesn't my bitch shut up? Where have all the cowboys gone? Will I ever love again? What about the children? Can you cure the gay cancer, aids? Will Detroit ever win a game? Why does my hamster keep throwing up?

  5. A historical analysis by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

    +MONDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: I will not suck any more dick ever again.
    +MONDAY EVENING+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp*

    +TUESDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: I will not suck any more dick ever again.
    +TUESDAY EVENING+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp*

    +WEDNESDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: I will not suck any more dick ever again.
    +WEDNESDAY EVENING+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp*

    +THURSDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: I will not suck any more dick ever again.
    +THURSDAY EVENING+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp*

    +FRIDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: I will not suck any more dick ever again.
    +FRIDAY EVENING+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp* *slurp*

    +SATURDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: I will not suck any more dick ever again.
    +SATURDAY EVENING+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp*

    +SUNDAY MORNING+
    Cmdr Taco: Today is the Lord's day.
    +SUNDAY AFTERNOON+
    Cmdr Taco: *slurp* *slurp* *slurp