BusinessWeek on Open Source and Copy Protection

prostoalex writes "An article starting with the words "Forget about Bill Gates, folks. The biggest enemy of free software may be Senator Ernest F. Hollings" historically had a little chance of being published in a recognized business publication. In this case, though, Business Week (no registration) runs a detailed but straightforward explanation of how the new copyright bills could threaten free software and open source movements."

Comments

Don't mod if you think it's karma whore

[jsse]

but something you should know: Information on Senator Ernest F. Hollings of South Carolina

Hollywood needs to change their business model

[galaga79]

Hollywood needs to learn that in order to survive it needs to change their business model so that it adapts to changes in technology, rather than change/control technology to suit aging business models. A perfect example of this is the following paragraph taken from the article in regards to VCRs.

THE VCR SCARE. In 1982, Jack Valenti, president of the Motion Picture Association of America, famously proclaimed that the videocassette recorder was as threatening to the movies as the Boston Strangler was to a woman walking alone. Twenty years later, video rentals account for 46% of studio revenues, vs. the 24% collected at the box office.

Sounds like history is repeating itself and the MPAA hasn't learnt anything from the past. The MPAA needs to stop being stubburn about changing their business model and start adopting new technologies rather than fighting them off. People like George Lucas have the right idea, as I hear he makes most of his profits off the merchandise.

Re:Excuse me but

[Krapangor]

>And, most importantly, the EU is full of copynazi's too. Generally, they adopt laws about 5 years after we do. So you'll get about half a decade more freedom than we do, use it well.

This is not correct. While there is a movement now to strengthen the companies rights at the whole copyright issue, the European tradition is to protect much more customer rights than in the US.
Examples:

• The European competition commissar Prodi fuck up all companies which try to abuse their power to betray customers. He has already attacked large companies like Daimler/Crysler and Volkswagen, and I think they have already moved their focus on Microsoft.
• The privacy proctection laws are much stronger than in the US. In fact you don't have any decent laws at all. But in Europe you have the right to demand to be informed what kind of information a company has stored about you and you have the right to demand that all information about you has to be deleted. And the company has to comply.

So hollywood wants to control the world

[Conspire]

Attack of the Clones DVD came out the same day here in Asia as the movie hit the theaters in the US. Hollywood execs are idiots if they think that any move with US law will thwart piracy overseas. As long as there is a market, there will be ways around. IF they were actually to get this bill passed the following would happen:

The first business to pop up will be graymarket chips that break the encryption. The algorythoms used for encryption will be either reverse engineered overseas, or will be walked right out the back door of some hollywood firm or hardware manufacturer by a disgrunted employee or director.
The second thing is what is already happenening now, pirated flicks hit the streets overseas in DVD format well ahead of when the hit the stores in the US.

It just sends chills down my spine thinking if these laws get passed, because they won't stop any piracy, they will just kill open source. And that is NON CONSTITUTIONAL. Please, write your senators and congressman and President Bush.