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BusinessWeek on Open Source and Copy Protection

Posted by michael on from the assault-on-the-open-source-religion dept.

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."

5 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. An interesting perspective coming from BusinessWee by dinotrac · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This article may be the best answer yet for why Linux and Free Software community members should care about adaptation by the community at large.
    Two things struck me:
    1. Linux has enough mind share and has been adapted by enough businesses to solve real business problems that a threat to Linux is a threat to many businesses, which is why a mag like BusinessWeek is interested.

    2. Did you notice the way they referred to Hollywood? Hollywood will this, Hollywood wants that. Sounds very much like a dark force and I think that's the effect it will have on readers, especially those who wonder what in hell Hollywood is doing in the middle of what ought to be governmental functions.

  2. When will they learn... by the_true_cirrus · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Another reason why Hollywood and Co. need to look into changing their business model is that sooner or later any copy-protection gets cracked. It may not be legal, it may not be right, but let's face it - it always happens! And when it does that copy-protection system is instantly worthless. Apart from annoying open-source fans like us they are just wasting their own time and money developing these things! I wonder sometimes if it has ever occured to them to combat piracy by just charging less for DVDs, CDs Videos etc. We all know it's costing them coppers to make so it's hardly surprising that people get tempted by pirate copies. If a brand new DVD was, say, 5 quid instead of 25 I think more people would go for that rather than a pirate copy which may still be cheaper but probably has inferior quality and lacks extras and a fancy cover.

  3. Another mainstream advocate on "our" side... by ctid · · Score: 3, Interesting
    I'd like to draw slashdotters' attention to the articles by John Naughton in the UK Sunday newspaper, The Observer. These articles are in the business section, but they seem to be online too. Today's article, which is on the same topic, is here.


    Naughton is also the author of A Brief History of the Future, which is an excellent read.

    --
    Reality is defined by the maddest person in the room
    1. Re:Another mainstream advocate on "our" side... by larien · · Score: 3, Interesting
      I particularly note the comment:
      the computer industry - whose $600 billion annual turnover dwarfs Hollywood's piddling $18bn
      Aside from Intel, I haven't heard any comments from other computer industry companies. Obviously, MS is going to be gung-ho about it as they'll quite happily sell us the legitimate OS with rights protection (didn't they also file a patent for it?), but this would affect the business model of IBM, HPaq, Sun and AMD (as well as the aforementioned Intel) and these companies should be finding their own "pet" senators to fight their cause in Congress (in the same way that Hollywood has bought out Hollins). Much as I hate to see the "good" side doing this, it seems to be the way that US government works (if it can be said to work....).

      Given a $600bn turnover (even without MS's contribution which must be considerable), the industry should be able to fight this if it becomes serious.

  4. Not Surprising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting
    It isn't suprising such a well written article appeared where and when it did. Note at the bottom of the page is:

    "Copyright 2002 , by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved"

    Following the available link to their main page... and a bit further, we arrive here . I seriously doubt there are any of us who haven't come accross a McGraw-Hill textbook at some point in time during our "career".

    I'm certainly not saying this isn't a good article... it is... one of the best I've read on the topic so far, but it is also interesting to note we are watching major industries trading body blows with the press as their gloves. Rest assured, if the industries didn't have anything to loose from such legislation, we sure wouldn't be reading articles like this.