The article mentions that one of the reasons given was the encryption used on the PSX2. We all know how governments can be with encryption, don't we.
It seems to me that this is more of an attempt to prevent the encryption technology from falling into the hands of "Dangerous" countries such as Iraq, Iran, and such.
I doubt that they would prevent it from being shipped into the US (although don't quote me on that), you'd just have to get permission, and probably prove that you're sending it to the US.
It's kinda funny though. 5 year olds in Japan can have technology that certain countries aren't allowed to (or, more correctly, that we're trying to keep the technology away from).
From reading the press release, it seems that the main thing that can be done is to open and close the cell membrane on command. How much further can this be taken, though?
I personally find it REALLY scary that someday someone could be able to control my cells with a remote control. Imagine the potential for abuse..."We can cure your cystic fibrosis, but you have to allow us to put millions of little computers on every cell in your body."
Who's going to be controlling these things? The doctor, the patient...will the government have the ability to control them? I don't trust any of these people to control the basic functions of my cells. My DNA is doing a darn fine job, thank you.
It really not the technology that scares me (I think it's actually kinda neat) it's who's in control, that's all.
Actually, they already have a way of preventing eavesdropping of the display signal. I believe it's called tempesting, but I'm not quite sure, that could be something totally different:-).
What it seems to me is that really the sole purpose of this encryption technique, is to prevent sort of middle-man copying...like putting a vcr or something between the output and the display. Remember, this isn't just from computer's to monitors...it's also from "set-top boxes" i.e. cable boxes. This looks like some sort of scheme to prevent people from doing what a lot of us do now...run your cable line through the vcr, and copy movies from TV.
More and more companies realize that information is money. I wouldn't doubt that we're going to see many more zany encryption schemes, protecting everything. Companies will continue to try to trample on consumer's rights, because the fewer rights that we have, the more money that they can make off of us.
Money DOES talk...but the whole reason politicians want money is to get re-elected. Most politicians will NOT vote for something when a large number of constituants call in opposing it, even when a large company like Microsoft is lobbying hard for it. It doesn't matter how much money they have if no one will vote for them.
So, we not only have to call and write (I still think with policitians, real mail is much more effective than e-mail) but we have to VOTE. That's the single most important right we have, and people use it far too infrequently.
Don't just call your state Senator and tell him/her you don't like this bill. Tell him/her that his support (or lack of ) on this bill will heavily influence how you vote. If enough people do this, that's the one thing that politicians will listen to more than money.
IANAL, but, I've read that Delaware is a very Corporation-friendly state. It has nothing to do with the current legal battle. I'm not sure what exactly the benefits of incorporating in Delaware are, but they're there. A great many corporations are incorporated in Delaware.
I'm showing my ignorance here, but why wouldn't the Command and Conquer Series be ported? That's the only reason I spend ANY time in windows...(and that time is not inconsiderable). -T.J.
Maybe I'm over simplifying this a bit (or a lot) but couldn't you compare this to selling virtually any kind of tool that makes it possible to do something illegal?
I mean, making guns isn't illegal, even though guns kill thousands of people a year, and are used in even more crimes than that. Cars are built that can go 140+ mph, yet there few places in the US where going that speed wouldn't be illegal. Does that mean that car and gun makers could be sued for making a product that CAN help a person break the law?
Just making a bit of code (which DOES, from what I've read here, have legal uses) wouldn't be a crime, right? They would actually have to use the program to break the law before they could be prosecuted. I would assume. Of course, I'm not a lawyer. In then end, however, none of this really matters. We're talking about a multi-billion dollar industry. They're GOING to win, eventually. What really needs to be done is to change the laws. But WE all know that. Maybe we should tell someone?
-T.J.
"Now really, Ms. Gross, I think it's a mistake for you to assume you're talking to a moron" - Oh, Lord!
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GURPS. Generic Universal Role-Playing System.
The article mentions that one of the reasons given was the encryption used on the PSX2. We all know how governments can be with encryption, don't we.
It seems to me that this is more of an attempt to prevent the encryption technology from falling into the hands of "Dangerous" countries such as Iraq, Iran, and such.
I doubt that they would prevent it from being shipped into the US (although don't quote me on that), you'd just have to get permission, and probably prove that you're sending it to the US.
It's kinda funny though. 5 year olds in Japan can have technology that certain countries aren't allowed to (or, more correctly, that we're trying to keep the technology away from).
"No, Sadam, you can't have my PSX2!"
From reading the press release, it seems that the main thing that can be done is to open and close the cell membrane on command. How much further can this be taken, though?
I personally find it REALLY scary that someday someone could be able to control my cells with a remote control. Imagine the potential for abuse..."We can cure your cystic fibrosis, but you have to allow us to put millions of little computers on every cell in your body."
Who's going to be controlling these things? The doctor, the patient...will the government have the ability to control them? I don't trust any of these people to control the basic functions of my cells. My DNA is doing a darn fine job, thank you.
It really not the technology that scares me (I think it's actually kinda neat) it's who's in control, that's all.
Okay, I can't help it..."We are the Borg."
Actually, they already have a way of preventing eavesdropping of the display signal. I believe it's called tempesting, but I'm not quite sure, that could be something totally different :-).
What it seems to me is that really the sole purpose of this encryption technique, is to prevent sort of middle-man copying...like putting a vcr or something between the output and the display. Remember, this isn't just from computer's to monitors...it's also from "set-top boxes" i.e. cable boxes. This looks like some sort of scheme to prevent people from doing what a lot of us do now...run your cable line through the vcr, and copy movies from TV.
More and more companies realize that information is money. I wouldn't doubt that we're going to see many more zany encryption schemes, protecting everything. Companies will continue to try to trample on consumer's rights, because the fewer rights that we have, the more money that they can make off of us.
Money DOES talk...but the whole reason politicians want money is to get re-elected. Most politicians will NOT vote for something when a large number of constituants call in opposing it, even when a large company like Microsoft is lobbying hard for it. It doesn't matter how much money they have if no one will vote for them.
So, we not only have to call and write (I still think with policitians, real mail is much more effective than e-mail) but we have to VOTE. That's the single most important right we have, and people use it far too infrequently.
Don't just call your state Senator and tell him/her you don't like this bill. Tell him/her that his support (or lack of ) on this bill will heavily influence how you vote. If enough people do this, that's the one thing that politicians will listen to more than money.
IANAL, but, I've read that Delaware is a very Corporation-friendly state. It has nothing to do with the current legal battle. I'm not sure what exactly the benefits of incorporating in Delaware are, but they're there. A great many corporations are incorporated in Delaware.
I'm showing my ignorance here, but why wouldn't the Command and Conquer Series be ported? That's the only reason I spend ANY time in windows...(and that time is not inconsiderable). -T.J.
I mean, making guns isn't illegal, even though guns kill thousands of people a year, and are used in even more crimes than that. Cars are built that can go 140+ mph, yet there few places in the US where going that speed wouldn't be illegal. Does that mean that car and gun makers could be sued for making a product that CAN help a person break the law?
Just making a bit of code (which DOES, from what I've read here, have legal uses) wouldn't be a crime, right? They would actually have to use the program to break the law before they could be prosecuted. I would assume. Of course, I'm not a lawyer. In then end, however, none of this really matters. We're talking about a multi-billion dollar industry. They're GOING to win, eventually. What really needs to be done is to change the laws. But WE all know that. Maybe we should tell someone?
-T.J.
"Now really, Ms. Gross, I think it's a mistake for you to assume you're talking to a moron" - Oh, Lord!