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Sony, Intel To Push Content Protection

prostoalex writes "Intel and Sony are trying to please the copyright-alerted content publishers and privacy-aware consumers by supporting and pushing Digital Transmission Content Protection standard. New technology allows the consumer to use the downloaded content, but not distribute it outside of their home. A PDF presentation from an Intel engineer is available on dtcp.com."

57 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. *COUGH* bullshit by SMOC · · Score: 4, Funny

    New technology allows the consumer to use the downloaded content, but not distribute it outside of their home

    So, what happens if I turn up to volume a bit?

    --
    All errors in this comment are mine. Corrections are considered a derivative work, and punishable under copyright law.
    1. Re:*COUGH* bullshit by vidnet · · Score: 4, Funny

      The giant barbed fence they build around your house will also be sound proof.

    2. Re:*COUGH* bullshit by gunix · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I was just about to write something about a laptop, never mind.
      Where is this taking us?
      The optimistic future is that the "content" industry can stop being afraid of all that P2P-mess, and they can start cutting the prices, since P2P is the reason for the high prices...

      The more realistic future is that they get an even firmer grip on the consumers and raise prices!

      Should I buy some DRM-free hardware today and save for future use? Well, AMD releases new hardware tomorrow....

      --
      Evolution of Language Through The Ages: 6000 BC : ungh, grrf, booga 2000 AD : grep, awk, sed
  2. Handcuffs by dew-genen-ny · · Score: 5, Insightful

    God this sort of stuff pisses me off -

    The analogy that springs to mind is that if you go to the public library, they let you borrow a book, only if you let them chain it to your wrist first.

    Information was, is and should be free.

    --
    tom-george.comBecause geeks rate higher t
    1. Re:Handcuffs by zephc · · Score: 4, Funny

      less like chaining it to your wrist, and more like duct-taping it to your face. The future of DRM means for payer's eyes only, LIke movies, but all over the place. When taping Friends is outlawed, only outlaws will tape Friends.

      --
      "I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
    2. Re:Handcuffs by Begemot · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, but it insaults my intelligence when "Legally Blonde 2000" is called Information.

      Real info was, is and remains free.

    3. Re:Handcuffs by RobotRunAmok · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Information was, is and should be free.

      Jeez, I thought we grew out of this notion five years ago. I guess as a new generation discovers the Internet, we have to go through the drill over and over. Fair enough.

      Information *IS* free. But Entertainment is not, never has been. Because I can render entertainment as data, clone it, and/or easily disseminate it doesn't mean I should. It most certainly does not mean I have a God-given and constitutionally-protected "right" to entertainment.

      The Big Problem has always been: What type of technology will allow us to simultaneously protect a consumer's right to Fair Use while preventing him from illegally distributing the entertainment he has purchased? *Everybody* is working on this; if Sony is finally announcing some progress, my only question is "What took you so long?"

    4. Re:Handcuffs by dew-genen-ny · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I disagree with the statement that entertainment has never been free.

      The concept of someone "owning" a song is relatively new - the idea that someone wrote it is not.

      It wasn't all that long ago that artists where happy for people to hear their work, because if it was good enough more people would pay to see them, and that would keep the food on the table.

      The mega-stars of the end of the 20th, beginning of this century are a new invention (and a terrible one at that). If you want to see a good reason not to pay people these huge sums, look at what the fortune part of the fame & fortune did to their creativity....but that's another story.

      --
      tom-george.comBecause geeks rate higher t
    5. Re:Handcuffs by AstroDrabb · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The problem is that the big media studios are NOT working on protecting Fair Use. They are only working on protecting their "content". They want the abitily to prevent you from copying ANYTHING which is WRONG IMO. We have a right to Fair Use and the legal right to backup. If I make a purchase of a DVD, I have the right to back it up and protect my investment so I don't need to repurchase it a year or two from now when the "content" on it is not usable any more. The media studios have every right to stop me from giving away their content, they DO NOT howver have a right to strip away my right to Fair Use. If they would build a system that allowed people to listen to music or watch movies while still allowing the people to make at least ONE backup, not many people would be outraged by their actions. As it stands now, the media company wants you to "pay-per-view/listen" for every piece of content. This is not fair. If they sell a product to me, then that product is mine and I have a right to back it up, sell it, give it away, throw it out, etc.

      --
      If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
      it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. -James Madison
    6. Re:Handcuffs by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful
      The tech world is filled with smart guys who cut "Mariah-like" deals for themselves; you just don't read about them because Larry Ellison's picture on the cover won't sell many copies of People Magazine.


      Huh? Larry Ellison owns the Oracle corporation! Tech people, when they are really good, they get stock options. Top artists, IMHO, should be treated like that.


      I think the situation is more balanced in the classic music market. There are CDs sold at less than $3, by some obscure east Europe orchestras. CDs by the Berliner Philarmoniker, sold by Deutsche Grammophon cost more, because they are more popular.


      However, the pop music market is highly distorted. This started in the late 1950s, when cheap music recording media, such as the 33 rpm LPs and 45 rpm singles became available. The media companies invented a marketing format based on "superstars" which is becoming more and more dependent on positive feedback. A popular artist becomes popular because she's popular, not because she has any merit. Pick anyone at random, make him sign a contract in the seven-digit range, and you have an instant superstar. Remember Milli Vanilli? This highly distorted marketing scheme is showing cracks, and they are trying to patch those cracks with legislation and DRM, instead on fixing the real cause of low sales, which is the mediocre quality of their artists.

    7. Re:Handcuffs by DunbarTheInept · · Score: 2, Insightful


      The Big Problem has always been: What type of technology will allow us to simultaneously protect a consumer's right to Fair Use while preventing him from illegally distributing the entertainment he has purchased?

      Nah, the bigger problem is this: How can that technology, if it gets invented, work in such a fashion that it doesn't criminalize open source software? Right now, every solution the industry comes up with depends on the software writers being 'trusted' by the recording industry. In other words, the techniques fail if you can write your own software from scratch. (For example, the technology that prevents you from fast-forwarding DVD's during certain sections, and the technology that prevents you from watching a DVD in the "wrong" country, both depend on the software author choosing to go out of his way to enforce it even though customers don't want it. This doesn't work in an open-source solution, which is why the MPAA hates DeCSS so much. It's not the copying, since that can happen anyway - it's the breaking of their ability to tell you exactly how you can and can't view the DVD.)

      I fear DRM because it *does* result in information (not just entertainment) being stifled. Tell someone the information needed to write their own content playing software and go to jail, even though there are reasons for doing so that have nothing to do with piracy.

      --

      Don't label something "offtopic" unless you know the topic well enough to tell what's on topic.

  3. and the analog hole? by gl4ss · · Score: 3, Funny

    is it closed?

    heck, play the music loud enough and it does leave your home! buy a bitching video projector and the images leave your home as well ;)

    .

    --
    world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    1. Re:and the analog hole? by CaptainBaz · · Score: 4, Interesting

      My current setup means that I can't play DVDs on my PC, because I *might* be outputting the signal via TV-out (PowerDVD 4 on Win2000 Pro, generic DVD-ROM and GeForce2MX400 gfx).

      What makes you think you'll be allowed to use a projector? :-)

    2. Re:and the analog hole? by gl4ss · · Score: 2, Interesting

      use the vga in of the projector?

      and what you mean that you can't play dvd's? programs like powerdvd refuse to play?? hasn't happened to me(and you know why there's macromedia chips to supposedly screw up the signal in cards with tv-out to be used with dvd's).

      what makes me think that they'll allow use of projector? the fact that if they don't nobody will buy the thing because they wouldn't be able to use their tv's, monitors or ANYTHING to look at the said content(they have to make it possible to see/hear the stuff somehow, no?)

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    3. Re:and the analog hole? by CaptainBaz · · Score: 2, Interesting

      To clarify:

      PowerDVD 4, which is out NOW, on the market, will not allow MacroVision'd DVDs to be played at all on systems with a gfx card like the Nvidia GeForce2 MX400.

      Reason: The GeForce2 doesn't allow the TVout hardware to be disabled by software, so PowerDVD prefers to stop me playing the DVD at all unless it can be sure I'm not outputting it via analogue.

      People still buy PowerDVD, so I'l not sure your argument stands. Yes ok, VGA works at the moment, but it's being phased out by digital output, and you bet they'll be controlling exactly what kind of device you can plug in at any given time...

    4. Re:and the analog hole? by CavemanKiwi · · Score: 2, Informative

      I had a similar problem with playing DVDs on girlfriends Laptop that runs WinXP pro. I was using windows media player tho, it would only seemed to allow the dvd picture on the Laptop screen. My 1st reaction was they don't want people to tape the DVD. However I played around some more and worked out that it only deplayed the DVD picture on the primary display. So I switched the primary display to the TV and yay problem fixed :)

      I am not sure why this limitation exists but there you go.

  4. How are they going to enforce that? by miodekk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I can't see any way to enforce that.
    Of course assuming you are using linux or other open source OS.

    1. Re:How are they going to enforce that? by rknop · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I can't see any way to enforce that. Of course assuming you are using linux or other open source OS.

      And what makes you think that Linux or any other open source OS is going to be able to view any media in the future? (At least legally?) Heck, it's already illegal, technically, in the USA to watch DVDs with open source software, even DVDs that you have legally purchased.

      -Rob

  5. New technology by mst76 · · Score: 5, Funny

    > New technology allows the consumer to use the downloaded content, but not distribute it outside of their home.

    Dang, I used to hand out mp3 cdr's on the street corner. Now I have to resort to sharing on kazaa inside my home.

  6. Any attempts always end up getting cracked. by LinuxMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is interesting, because when it all comes down to it, the "good guys" are hurt due to restrictions, and the "bad guys" always end up pirating, etc. I am not sure there really is an answer as to how to protect information 100% without it both hurting the consumer and being crackable by a cracker. Of course, the governments can keep passing laws that make reverse engineering illegal, etc, but again, that's just going to scare the average Joe much more than it would scare someone who really wants to crack a DRM transmission. Only time will tell where the DRM issue ends up.

    the new 40gig ipod

  7. I love the wording on these. by Borealis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Allow" the customer to use digital content at home. You mean the content you payed for? As opposed to not allowing you to listen/watch/use content you've payed for?

    They always word these things like they're *granting* new rights instead of taking them away. I don't know whether to be amused at the balls of the PR makers or dismayed at the fact that there are twits who will read a press release like that and think "Oh goody, I've been wanting to do that."

    --
    Unbreakable toys can be used to break other toys.
  8. old computers by kipple · · Score: 3, Informative

    people will keep their old PCs because of that. how are the sales supposed to increase then? will they sneak drm-enabled processors to customers without telling it? maybe with a new eXPerience of an Operating System?

    I really hope that some new company (from China, maybe?) will come up with new brands of processors without the DRM stuff. but then probably the US government will make them illegal in the country :)

    --
    -- There are two kind of sysadmins: Paranoids and Losers. (adapted from D. Bach)
  9. Digital Content Protection by Starmaven · · Score: 2, Insightful
    There's always a way to copy music. You can use a double-ended dubbing cable (with stereo plugs on both ends), plug one end inot an MP3 player and the other end into a computer's microphone port. Start up Sound Recorder, or the equivalent, and there's your new, non-content protected MP3. The only way they could completely protect it is to make it impossible for you to listen to it.

    -StarMaven

    --

    -StarMaven

    1. Re:Digital Content Protection by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Obviously the phrase "generation loss" is lossed on you :-)

    2. Re:Digital Content Protection by RMH101 · · Score: 4, Informative
      well, if you want to record in mono and overload your mic preamp, go ahead. otherwise, do it properly and plug it into the the LINE IN on your sound card.


      sheesh, someone tells you to plug something into your soundcard and it gets a plus 4 insightful? whilst i'm here, anyone want to mod me up if i tell you how to unplug your keybo....

  10. Is it bad? by joostje · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I guess loads of people will moan about not being able to illegaly copy. But why would it be bad if technology allows the wishes of the copyright owner to be enforcerd.

    What to me is *much* worse, is when these DRM techniques disable me (honest linux user, strictly using Free software), to do things MS users can. I might *want* to pay for a film/song, but if the technology disables me from vieuwing it, I'll have to become a criminal.

    Fortunaltely, the requirements, as stated in the .pdf, are:


    Content Company Requirements for Digital Tansmission

    * Stated Requirement:
    "Keep honest people honest"
    * Specific Requirements:
    [...]

    (page 11 of the document).

    So I guess we're OK then??? (Hope so).

    1. Re:Is it bad? by Sphere1952 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because the wishes of the copyright holder are not the same as the rights of the copyright holder.

      --
      Big Brother Bush is doubleplus ungood.
  11. Of course they can enforce it by AnEmbodiedMind · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The encryption in the DRM will ensure that no untrusted application (or OS) will be able to decode the media file. That way they can easily enforce the constraints on the media (until a bug is found in the DRM code)

  12. Can We Say Fritz Chip? by Praedon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This has got to be fritz chip revisited... I mean come on... Plus, not to mention all the people who will refuse to buy the new cpu, and refuse to update an "eXPerience OS", and just do what a real man does. Go to Linux! Besides.. I fail to see how possible it is to make a CPU Block digital media... not to mention on how possible it really is to accomplish this without touching a very touchy subject of freedom of speech.

    --
    Just me
  13. When are they going to learn? by Apreche · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Stuff like this will be hacked a cracked inside of a few weeks. Stop spending so much money developing DRM technology, it's a total waste. Maybe if you did that, then it would offset some of the money you say you are losing due to infringement.

    --
    The GeekNights podcast is going strong. Listen!
  14. A simple rule about copying music: by Biogenesis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you can put it through speakers, you can copy it. Simple. It's only a matter of time before someone with high quality gear decides to make a copy for everyone. Sure it might slow down the spread of stolen music, but it can't be stopped.

  15. Again: Nice try. by Qbertino · · Score: 3, Insightful

    When will the vendors finally learn it? CDs would still be a stable market if it weren't for CDRWs costing less than a set of coasters nowadays. You won't turn the weel back with copmetition just around the corner.
    If Intel should start getting truly pesky to customers with TCPA, this new gadget and anything else, AMD, VIA, Motorola and any other Vendor will rejoyce and push out CPUs and Architecture variants that don't have this crap.

    Why don't Corporations just go back to good ol' quality products for a fair price to make money? That used to be a reliable way to do it after all.
    Sanely priced CDs with mp3s and oggs and mpeg videos included, along with interessting booklets should do magic to a declining market. But I guess they just want to sell crap for to much money and will use law enforcement to emphasis that and in the end really piss their customers of.

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    1. Re:Again: Nice try. by mangu · · Score: 2, Insightful
      PhotoShop should cost only a dollar because that's what the blank media is worth


      That's why I don't buy PhotoShop either. It's grossly overpriced, just like pop music.

  16. six months by famazza · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll wait six months until somebody outside US publishes something to crack this bullshit!

    Just like CSS!

    When will they learn that any kind of digital copy protection will ALWAYS be cracked in a few monthes? Don't they have TI advisors?

    --

    -=-=-=-=
    I know life isn't fair, but why can't it ever be un-fair in MY favor!?
  17. Re:That's it. by Unoriginal+Nick · · Score: 4, Informative
    No more intel for me. I'm buying AMD from now.

    That won't make much difference.

    In the worst case, I'm moving to China to buy a Chiniese PC. Runs linux.

    Yeah, because China is such a hotbed for freedom...until you do something the government doesn't like. Oh, and there's nothing stopping them from putting DRM into Linux.

  18. Define "home." by ahfoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The PDF was hosed and the CNet article was spartan, so I'm still left wondering about this great big definition issue in the term "home."
    This reminds me of the crisis over defining "copy" that underlies all the legal arguments over file sharing. The fact is, these terms have long been de-stabilized. The advent of electronic media that began at the turn of the century created a whole new level of complexity in language that text based laws simply cannot encompass.
    Just imagine the use of the term "home" in a filesystem. Where is home? Does that mean in relation to root? Which root? Or is it the user home? Does that include the virtual network or locally? Local meaning active or including backups?
    Glazing over these things as if they didn't exist simply because a lot of people don't want to face it is not looking at the reality we live in today.

  19. Excellent. by acceleriter · · Score: 3, Insightful

    More competing standards will cause confusion and anxiety in the marketplace, as skittish "rights" holders wait on the sidelines to see which one will emerge victorious. This could only be helpful in the battle against DRM. I encourage more digital restrictions standards :).

    --

    CEE5210S The signal SIGHUP was received.

  20. Revocation question by Phil+Wherry · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, I actually did RTFA (forgive me!) and note with some concern that the standard provides for "device revocation" under some clearly-defined terms, though those terms are unspecified. Can anyone shed some light on what those might be?

    The obvious concern here is that the devices will be sold under some sort of license agreement that will permit unspecified others to figuratively fry your hardware if they suspect it's compromised (or are otherwise displeased with you). I imagine that one's recourse as a consumer (remember: we're "consumers" and not "citizens" here!) will be quite limited. Sigh.

  21. Meanwhile Windowsupdate is offering me DRM too by Angostura · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Yes folks its the 'Windows Rights Management Client 1.0', a 'recommended' upgrade if you are running XP.

    What does it do?

    The Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Rights Management (RM) client is required for your computer to run applications that provide functionality based on Windows RM technologies. Installing this client places software on your computer that allows RM-aware applications to work with Windows Rights Management Services (RMS) to provide licenses for publishing and consuming RM-protected information.

    Now what interests me is, who is going to be the first software company to embrace this? Probably the next version of Media Player.

  22. Re:If the DRM system looks for a watermark by Technician · · Score: 2, Informative

    The watermarked content mentioned would not be played on a DRM system. It would be played on a typical current generation RIO, PC, DVD player, Etc. The DRM system simply won't be compatible with regular MP3's, expecialy those recorded from content with a watermark. However, everything else would play them no problem.

    Anyway I read the article. It's quite clear this the the Microsoft Media PC. It's no more a general use PC than an X Box is. It's a cable subscription box that plays rental and purchase pre-packaged media for general consumption. It is not a create and share or rip, mix, burn platform. It's a subscriber box and nothing more.
    Those who want a subscription to a service like Cable TV or XM radio will need the subscriber box. This is designed to go in the living room. Everything else will still use your general use computer as always.

    The real question is will Microsoft kill the Intel version by not supporting it in the OS and push their own Media Player 9 DRM .net services & certificates instead? Somehow I don't see MS letting control of the DRM run by anybody else. They will be the gatekeeper no exceptions! Having it run on Red Hat and not using Passport and .net server won't be permitted.

    --
    The truth shall set you free!
  23. No thanks, I don't need cripple-ware by orthogonal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    New technology allows the consumer to use the downloaded content, but not distribute it outside of their home.

    Because you should have to pay twice if you want to play the music on a portable mp3 player.

    And of course, no open source mp3 software, because I could compile it with -DNO_DRM.

    Well, Sony, guess what? Having my music conveniently on my PC and on my mp3 portableplayer is what motivates me to buy the music in the first place.

    And guess what? I do respect copyright; I won't even burn a CD for close friends, or rip their CDs -- despite the 32 GB of free space on my portable.

    And I'll continue to respect your copyright: I just won't buy your cripple-ware.

    I can find plenty of great music on old LPs, on real (Phillips-Sony Red Book Standard), from emusic.com, and from independent labels.

    Let me repeat: I don't want your cripple-ware. It does me no good since it won't play on the hardware I control (it only plays on hardware I buy and you control). So it will do you no good -- I won't exchange my money for it.

    The more new releases you distribute exclusively as cripple-ware, the more alternatives will be produced. And that's what I'll be buying.

  24. Re:That's it. by Sphere1952 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Let them put DRM into Linux. That would be great!

    Of course, there's a little clause in the GPL about modifying and redistributing the software...

    --
    Big Brother Bush is doubleplus ungood.
  25. Typical /. Hipocrisy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As I read the article and then read the comments, it dawned on me after a few lines; there was advocation for breaking the law everywhere I looked. Comments such as 'this will be cracked' and 'we will find other ways to steal music.' What kind of immature attitude is being thrust into the open here? Honestly, if the community doesn't want to be portrayed as a bunch of thieves and black hats, then this kind of idiocy has to stop.

    You don't want to be called a thief for running Linux? You don't want to be known as some script-kiddie hacker for using OSS? Well here is a good hint...stop advocating cracking and stealing music and software. You paid for it and it is yours to use, but, don't share it with the rest of the world.

    Hypocrisy is found here in the more pure form I have ever seen outside of Hollywood.

    1. Re:Typical /. Hipocrisy by ddimas · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Wrong. This is a rehash of the copy protection issues of the 1980's and early 1990's. Why is it no longer an issue? The industry settled on a convienient and copyproof (or so they thought) format that did not mandate all this DRM crap. After a few years they found out that copying was a non-issue.

      Ironicly the software distribution format they settled on was the cd.

    2. Re:Typical /. Hipocrisy by __past__ · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Not necessarily. I do respect copyright, don't run unlicesensed software, don't download mp3s or videos from p2p networks etc, yet I do think this will be cracked. And honestly, I will have a good laugh at their expense when it will be.

      The problem is that copy protection has failed every time. From the first attempts from 8bit game producers over hardware dongles and broken audio-"CD"s, nothing has ever really prevented illegal distribution of media and software. But each new attempt has made life worse for the honest paying customer. Currently, I can't play a lot of my "CD"s in my computer or car stereo, because the music industry is deliberatly breaking standards - I could still grab it from Kazaa, of course, and use it without any hassle. What will those DRM-style things bring - will I be able to make a backup of my legally purchased files if I get a new computer or hard drive? Will I be able to use them if I chose to use an operating system the DRM software providers might never have heard of, or simply don't consider big enough a market?

      I still think that on the long run it's a better idea to offer your customers good products at a fair price rather than treating them as a bunch of worthless criminals.

    3. Re:Typical /. Hipocrisy by Hatta · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Damn straight we'll crack it. Why should we respect the law, when the law has no respect for us? What matters is the will of the people, and this kind of grass roots direct action is far closer to what the people want than anything dreamed up in a congressional committee. The system is wholly corrupt, any attempt to work within the system will be rapidly hijacked or ignored while enough lip service is given to appease constituents. In such circumstances justice can only be had by working outside the system. Don't forget the only reason you're able to legally enjoy a beer with dinner tonight is because of massive disrespect for the law.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  26. They can make all the DRM they want by Lumpy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'll never use it and continue to create my free alternatives that are DRM free.

    if this makes me a criminal then so be it, I'll be an underground criminal but at least I'll be DRM free.

    My Freevo does things that no TiVO can (watch your shows on the subway with your laptop... oh wait you cant without ahack that makes making a freevo box look easy) and I'll always be able to create DRM free mp3's no matter what they try.

    and I know that I'm not the only one that does not want DRM here nor some damned companie's fingers in what I do in my home.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  27. Consider what the NSA does... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative
    If you want to find out where DRM is going, consider what the NSA and other government agencies around the world do in order to keep encrypted data secret:

    1. Never, ever associate the unencrypted data with the encrypted.

    2. Keep the encryption and decryption keys secret and change them.

    3. Keep the encryption and decryption devices secret.

    Even given all that, I'd be codes still get cracked.

    So, RIAA and MPAA want to encrypt hundreds of millions if not billions of copies of known data thereby associated encrypted and unencrypted data then distribute them around the whole world, and millions and millions of decryption devices with static decryption keys, then distribute those around the whole world.

    Thus completely violating the practices and procedures of those who entire job it is to keep secrets.

    Prediction: it won't work.

  28. I have the solution by tomstdenis · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When Intel comes out with "ultra-optimized .... [fine print] DRM enabled" systems...

    DON'T BUY THEM.

    That'll shut them up fairly quick.

    Tom

    --
    Someday, I'll have a real sig.
    1. Re:I have the solution by Overzeetop · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But don't forget to send a short (paper) letter to Michael Dell telling him _why_ you chose another vendor to service your corporate account. Preferrably, you can tell him why you have chosen bnot to putchase your next computer from his company, but rather from his competitor. Most businesses & end users don't buy processors, they buy computers. Computer makers must know that we expect computers wihtout DRM shackles, otherwise Intel will continue to underwrite their advertising campaigns and get their hobbled chips into more systems.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  29. Soooo...lemme get this straight by TyrranzzX · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Middle aged pundit: I can't play this on my dvd player, I think it's broken.

    Salesperson: *looks at DVD* oh, that's one of those new DRM protected dvd's.

    Middle aged pundit: Drmwhazit?

    Salesperson: It's a security measure to keep people from copying the DVD.

    Middle aged pundit: Ok, well why won't it play on the player then?

    Salesperson: Becuase you have to have a DRM enabled DVD player to run it.

    Middle aged pundit: *runs through mind, looks over at shelf, sees an expensive $300 player for the DVD, becomes slightly irritated* Can I get a refund then?

    Salesperson: Sorry, it's store policy not to give refunds on CD's or DVD's.

    Middle aged pundit: Why?

    Salesperson: Because a lot of people copy them and try to return them. If we allowed for refunds we'd go out of buisness.

    Middle aged pundit: *now very irritated* But I didn't copy this, hell, it has copy protection on it! I want my money back.

    Salesperson: Sorry, can't do it.

    Middle aged pundit: Ok then. *runs off to look at the non-drm'd dvd section or out of the store very angry to return and look at the non-drm's dvd section*.

    This is how DRM is going to effect most people. The youngin's and technically adept are going to know about it and not even get caught up in that. Plus, with their system it looks like it needs an internet connection which is even more expensive.

    Only when it's cheap will it catch on. Remember that folks.

    Intel's going to have to put some money investment into a fritz chip. Unless they are getting some profit out of this it ain't gonna happen. The whole idea for the corperations is to gouge people on the media they by and if that fails then the entire scheme will fail.

  30. Why? by Cycline3 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why are the big companies pushing for DRM? After all - consumers DON't want it - and we aren't likely to buy much DRM protected kit. I understand the IP debate - but if you don't have a product that people want - then you can't sell it. This seems like such a no brainer to me.

  31. Dear Big Business by SQL+Error · · Score: 3, Informative

    Fuck off and die.

    Regards,

    Your customers.

  32. Uncrackable isn't the point by swb · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Uncrackable DRM isn't the point or the goal. The goal is DRM layered with enough hard encryption that it's a major pain in the ass.

    It's not a question of how, but when. VHS has no encryption, but Macrovision was applied after development for content protection. CDs were a late 70s/early 80s invention, no encrytption at all, with various macrovision-style protection methods applied later. DVDs were a late 80s, early 90s invention, flawed encryption, with limited DRM via improved macrovision.

    It's clear they're learning, and they'll only get better.

  33. Here was my first thought by JoeShmoe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I couldn't view the PDF but it almost sounded like Intel's big invention was basically to only allow transfer among private IPs. Specifically:

    The DTCP specification, embodied in home networks, would permit consumers to play downloaded music or movies on any PC or digital device in the home. However, the downloaded material can't be transmitted outside the home or copied

    Now what embodies a "home" network as opposed to an "outside" network? Private IPs. Almost all the people I know with broadband and multiple computers are using some kind of NAT. Think how easy it would be to put a chip in a consumer electronic device that sniffed out the IPs of files as they come in or out. Anything with 192.168.x.x is allowed and anything else is denied.

    Now, I'm sure the hard core networking guys could use PPTP or something to "extend" their home network around the world but for 99% of the people out there, they already can't figure out how to share files over NAT (try listening to all the complaints about DCC not working in any IRC filesharing channel) so it's doubtful that they would know how to bypass this either.

    And because it's the a chip in the electronic device that controls the input/output you couldn't just write a program that would be NAT aware like the modern P2P sharing programs. You'd essentially have to modchip all your devices, which could end up being a lot more trouble than its worth.

    So that's my theory on how it'll work.

    -JoeShmoe
    .

    --
    -- I wonder which will go down in history as the bigger failure: the War on Drugs or the War on Filesharing
  34. Trusted Computing for anti-virus NOT for DRM!!! by morgue-ann · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's obvious that Microsoft's month for secuirty wasn't enough (after 20 years of feature creep, we only get a month for?).

    I've read the TCPA specs and it's not a bad idea in a commercial & some home environments as long as you can turn it off so you can develop code or run someone elses' if you choose to (as opposed to sneak-ware like Gator). I have two computers at work & wouldn't mind if the one running email were "locked down" to keep corporate IS from losing their minds for every MSBlaster/Fizzer/MSwormoftheweek as long as they leave my "programming" box alone (where's the checkbox for USB compliance suite on their audit checklist???).

    At home, it would be an advantage to have two copies of Windows installed- one that lets me play & one that I run video editing on & only runs trusted code.

    By mixing DRM in, Intel, Microsoft, h-p & others are guaranteeing that

    1) there will be strong opposition to the tech in the form of boycotts (see the anti-RFID flak) & cracks

    2) the tech will be weakened to serve its new DRM masters by complexity not needed for simple rogue code protection

  35. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion