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The Real Purpose of DRM

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the man-keeping-us-down dept.

Roberto writes "Gorgeous nerd Annalee Newitz hacked a political interpretation to recent vacuum cleaner cockfights at O'Reilly's ETech: 'Hollywood corporations have finally admitted that the real reason they built digital restriction management (DRM) software into PVRs and DVD players was to stop geeks from turning their recording devices into back-alley combat machines. You haven't seen ugly until you've watched what a DVD player without DRM can do to a TiVo.' Don't try to even think of this at home."

21 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Dude... by SigILL · · Score: 5, Funny

    April fools day is *so* yesterday.

    --
    Error: password can't contain reverse spelling of ancient Chinese emperor
    1. Re:Dude... by Brandybuck · · Score: 3, Funny

      April Fools was yesterday. Today CowboyNeal goes off on a search for real news, only to find yesterday's fake stories. He then posts it on Slashdot.

      Never believe any Slashdot story on April 1st... or April 2nd.

      --
      Don't blame me, I didn't vote for either of them!
  2. The REAL Purpose of DRM by eldavojohn · · Score: 4, Funny

    A late attempt to keep the secret of printed word hidden from the peasants and the surfs.

    Those uprisings do cause ever so much trouble.

    -Lord Rove II

    --
    My work here is dung.
    1. Re:The REAL Purpose of DRM by randomiam · · Score: 3, Funny

      Peasants don't surf.

    2. Re:The REAL Purpose of DRM by macsox · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...because once the surfs get ahold of the printed word, the ink starts to run, and the pages get all soggy.

      --
      go get it
    3. Re:The REAL Purpose of DRM by LordOfTheNoobs · · Score: 2, Funny

      A serf on the other hand...

      --
      They're there affecting their effect.
    4. Re:The REAL Purpose of DRM by Doctor+Memory · · Score: 2, Funny

      And serfs are unpeasant...

      --
      Just junk food for thought...
    5. Re:The REAL Purpose of DRM by Bloke+down+the+pub · · Score: 2, Funny

      It's worse than that, they're revolting.

      --
      It's true I tell you, feller at work's next door neighbour read it in the paper.
  3. Re:Gorgeous? by capt.Hij · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dude! This chick just made a joke about Ubuntu *and* Gentoo users in the same sentence and then went on to disparage Red Hat users. I don't know what bug is up your nether regions, but I for one am in love. (She also discusses "USB devices." *drool*)

  4. Re:Gorgeous? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Another one *shudder*.

  5. Re:Gorgeous? by LouisZepher · · Score: 5, Funny

    In your case then, "beer holder", not "beholder".

  6. Re:Looks... by Lispy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Please don't complain that /. is not women friendly. Not after yesterday. I am still suffering. :)

  7. Re:Gorgeous? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Which one?

  8. Re:Gorgeous? by SilentChris · · Score: 2, Funny

    "That's a man, baby!" - Austin Powers

  9. digital rights management by henster29 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Its rights.. not restriction

  10. Digital Rights by Jerf · · Score: 2, Funny

    Your digital rights to swing your digital arm ends where my digital nose begins!

    (Digital, digital, didgeridoo...)

  11. O.M.G. by QuietLagoon · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is this really such a slow news day that this is news?

  12. Re:Looks... by 91degrees · · Score: 5, Funny

    Bet you're just saying that because you're ugly.

  13. Re:Posted March 14, 2006. by PhYrE2k2 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Slow news day :)
    We used all the _real_ news yesterday.

    --

    when you see the word 'Linux', drink!
  14. Yeah but. . . by kimvette · · Score: 2, Funny

    Can I buy a Roomba and reprogram it to think it's a pony? OMG!!!

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  15. Re:"Looks first" -- even on slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Frankly, if some pudgy, out-of-shape geek criticizes my looks I can easily fix that problem... with a fork

    I know it's sexist, but it's generally a good idea not to fork on the first date. I know it's a great way to keep in shape and everyone wants that fresh forked look, but it's wise to spoon for a while before you move on with the forking, to knifing depending on how things go.