You are absolutely correct. At the DeCSS trial, the MPAA lawyers said that a licensed DVD player for Linux was in the works, and therefore people needn't have the CSS algorithm.
Since then, it seems to have quietly disapeared(sp?), while there are, as the editorial points out, three OSS/GPL'ed DVD players, none of which would not have happened without DeCSS.
There is much pointage to be had here when debating the merits of various development methodologies, but I'm sure they're obvious to your average slashdot reader.
Um. May I suggest you read this document which explains the philosophy behind the kernel modifications.
Securing Windows 2000 and 'forking' (actually patching) the Kernel were both done with different goals.
In a nutshell, the modifications done to the kernel were done to impliment the 'Flask' security architecture, which (mainly) is about separation between setting and enforcing security policies, and how this is applied to the various types of resources. In addition, SELinux was the by-product of a research project, and is not used operationally by the NSA.
The suggested configurations for Windows 2000 have different goals, and is not a handbook for implimenting the Flask architecture on Windows 2000.
The parent of this was moderated as a troll, and while his opinion is probably not the same as the majority here, it does require a better response than "troll", even if it was a troll. So:
If you accept the incorrect usage of "open source" to mean "GPL'd code" then this statement makes perfect sense.
I presume that what Ballmer meant to say was "The only thing we have a problem with is when the government funds GPL'd work. Government funding should be for work that is available to everybody."
This is an understandable viewpoint. GPL'd code is not accessable to everybody. It is only accessable to developers who are willing to release their code under the GPL license which excludes large portions of the community. Government-funded GPL code is inaccessable to the Apache Foundation, it's inaccessable to the OpenBSD developers, and it's inaccessable to any commercial developers who are working on closed-source products.
There is one major example or government funding GPL'ed code: NSA Secure Linux. And this is probably what MS is scared of. They can make a sales pitch about how MS is secure, but any PHB can point and say 'this is done by the guys at the NSA! We can trust them, right?'*
To which MS has no answer. My opinion: the US government, and for that matter any other.gov, should want to work on GPLed/OSS projects because they want control over their own infrastructure, something that is denied to them if they run closed-source, restricted source, and licensed binaries on their own computers.
A government might also want to work on GPLes/OSS software because it is a public service. The work they have the capability to do could do more to estabilish ubiquitous computing for the masses than Microsoft has ever done. By removing one of the elements of the so-called "digital divide", i.e. price (both in licensing costs and the cost of hard-ware required to run Microsoft software), the government does more for it's citizenry.
*Ignoring the NSA-paranoia - don't forget there are two sides to the NSA, the code-making and code-breaking depts
This is probably in the same vein as the leaked document "NCIS
submission on communication data retention law". they proposed much the same thing, allegedle to confirm alibis and track known criminals. It's on Cryptome
It was mentioned on Slashdot, but it was a while ago.
It wasn't clear in the document whether or not it was the content of the communication or the record of the communication. The cost of storing the data (UK only) was estimated at nine million pounds per year, based on the current running costs of the National DNA Database. Initial costs would probably be higher.
More of Iain _M_ banks..
on
The Business
·
· Score: 2
FYI. He wrote "A few notes on the Culture" which he allowed to be spread around on usenet. You can find them here (part 1) and here (part 2)
Here. Listen, and you can hear that at least one of the judges was most definitely not impressed with the arguments - specifically, that DeCSS is required for fair use, and that code is free speach.
1. Why and how is a computer program expressive speech? What does it express? 2600's lawyers are entirely familiar with Touretzky's Gallery, so forget about those. Assume you have some C or perl staring at you, any random block of code in any random print-out. What does it express? Why should that code be protected expression?
Code isn't expressive simply by looking at it. It's meaning is only comprehended by understanding it. At this point you can see how the writer approached the problem, how s/he handles special cases - all this and more is expressed through the code.
You could say that the problem with code WRT. the 1st Amendment is it's dualism - on one hand, it can be made beautiful, on the other hand, a great piece of code could do something like generate batches credit card (Luhn) numbers.*
You could compare code to musical notation. In some cases, (Bach, Chopin) the notation itself is readable and if you're a good musician you can imagine the piece in your head, just as a programmer can imagine the effect of a piece of code.
But staring at the code is nothing like seeing it in operation, just as staring at the piece is nothing like hearing it. And whereas musical notation expresses music, it could be said that at the lowest level source code is an expression of formal logic or number theory.
*And yes, I know there are legitimate uses for credit card number generators..
Hacker: 'Hey, we're helping you exposing security holes so you can fix them'. Dude: 'And why should we fix the holes?.' Hacker: 'Um uh. To protect you from us.'
Correct. Because while your average hacker (in the true sense of the word) would tell the company responsible, and maybe inform CERT, there are hackers who find holes in major computer systems like CITIBANK's, and sell these findings to the Russian mafia for a bottle of vodka.
And I am not making that up. It happened, and CITIBANK were loosing tens of thousands of dollars per month because of it. While your average CRacker would play around in the system, extending feelers, etc., a the HAcker ethic dictates that s/he would inform whoever is responsible for those systems as soon as s/he knew there was a problem.
You are either a troll or a fuckwit. Probably both.
In the UK, part of the TOS for BT's ADSL is that you're not allowed to modify the modem, as it blocks requests on port 80 to stop you hosting a website. I phoned them up to ask about this, and they threatened to fine me for "damage incurred", kick me of the service, etc.
Electronic Arts has a long history of churning out money-makers while screwing creative projects and people they've brought.
There was Peter Molyneux (B&W) at Bullfrog, and then in Bullfrog itself projects you'll never hear of but had real promise like "Creation" being dumped, and people leaving to do their own stuff - people like Bullfrogs second in command, and Mucky Foot.
China claims that the aircraft was in Chinese airspace when the incident occured.
Now, I know China claims national boundaries exending beyond Tiawan, but I think that many people here should be reminded that there's two sides to the story.
For example, try China.com for a different side of the story, or the BBC for a (reasonably) unbiased take on things.
The thing I find funny about this is that there are 1-metre resolution spy-satelite photographs of the airbase etc. at Janes Defence Weekly (Article), (Pictures), which two years ago no-one would have had access to.
This is absolutely correct. The worst kind of thing which can happen to a database company (which is anyone on the 'Net) is pollution. They can filter out some stuff - anything with swear words for instance - but innocent-looking, seemingly realistic, and totally innacurate data is what affects the value a their database.
In conclusion, actively misleading large companies (that sell your data to third parties) with "phun phorm philling" (sorry) is not only a good thing, but should be actively encouraged.
With respect to audio technology, IS there a new technology that would be compelling enough to make everyone switch?
It's called DVD Audio, or DVDA for short. Surround sound. Dolby Digital everything. Audiophiles are going nuts over it.
The release was delayed so they could strenghthen the encryption from DVDs - is uses CSS2, not standard CSS. This is why DVDAs will not work in DVD drives. There are no plans to create a DVDA drive for your average PC, unsurprisingly:-). At least, not until MS has the secure PC up and running.
The entertainment industry isn't going to kill MP3 - Microsoft is. Just as a browser is standard with win9x, so will Media Player 8 be standard with XP. I'd like to take this moment to give a big "Fuck You" to Windows Media Audio.
I 'fess up - I'm an MS Sheep(TM). Then I heard all this stuff about winXP product activation, Office XP, deliberatly breaking WinAmp, burning software, etc - So now I have a dual boot and as soon as I can get decent drivers for my soundcard (hurry up Creative!) it'll be Linux full time.
In six months my sig will be "It was XP or Linux - so: fdisk -a mbr"
It seems he has not looked into the whole DCMA thing though but tries to give generalities about it's use and incorporation. Let's keep on him for positive ability to decompile for fair use.
He says:
The most troublesome provision of the digital millennium copyright act is found in section 1201 (a ) (1) which makes it unlawful for a manufacturer to produce a device which is "primarily designed" for the purpose of infringing a copyright....
He's quoting sections at you. It looks like he's devoted some time to the DMCA, or at least looked it up in response to the question.
Rupert's post above is right. The guy seems a little more informed than Y.A.Policitian, and if someone got him clued on the whole DeCSS thing, he would take issue with the ruling. Having an amicus curae from a congress-man couldn't hurt either...
For those who are wondering, yes, Enos Root did die in Sweden in 1944 only to reappear 50 years later in a prison in the Philippines.
They faked his death. N.S just takes us along for the ride. Just before Shaftoe departs for manila there's a description of Bishoff and R.von.H walking someone covered entirely in blankets in to the back of a car. I think. It was one of the things I didn't catch the first time I read the book.
I want to know more about Societas Eruditorium as well. But hey.
Um. This is a proposal. Nothing's been signed yet.
The ugly fact is that DNS is a hierarchical, centralised system, and the one at the top is In Charge. Shame it's Network Solutions:-) Maybe VeriSign can do better?
There I said it. There is a big difference between willingly specifying the ads you want to recieve, your locale, etc. and having the information gathered without your knowlege or consent.
As much as people want adverts to go away without having to resort to blocking software, they wont. Ads as a business model does suck, but they do help pay for some sites.
Ads on the web are a necessary evil, like on TV. However, there are greater and lesser evils.
So, props to the guy for trying to deal with the issue in an open and honest matter. I for one would register interest/locale with ODSN, provided that the data is only used for demographic purposes - and nothing else. I think that being able to have a degree of control over the ads I get served is a good idea. Specifically, voting on ads suckiness, banishing some ("FAWKING DSL" et al) forever, and voluntarily registering my interests.
In addition - why must ads be images? The ad-space would be much better taken up (in my view) with links to "coming soon", "download now!" + feature summary or whatever - rather than crap obviously created by people who wouldn't know good animation if it hit them over the head with a sauce-pan and ran in to a mouse-hole.
It will also be interesting to hear your responses to the predictions made in response to your predictions:-)
But seriously, when replying to posts (as you have chosen to do in the past), click "Reply to this" under the post, as opposed to the "Reply" button at the top.
As stated in posts above, the practical uses of this are limited to that which you want kept out of the hands of kid sisters etc.
That is, until someone develops a program as an exercise to cryptanalyse the (well-known) cipher. Which sounds like cool fun to me, so I'd be willing to give it a try:-)
Of course, there is the symmetric key aspect, so for e-mail you still need an alternate secure channel.
Despite this, I think it's a good idea, as a starting point in crypto. A good book to get is to read Applied Cryptography by Bruce Schneier(any good book site), and the fishtank libraries by Mr R.J. Hansenare good learning tools.
In Windows98, the bog-standard CD Player which comes in "Multimedia Accessories" allows you to choose your CDROM drive: The drop-down list contains "\Device\CdRom0", "\Device\CdRom1" etc.
Please please please Get It In Writing. Like a post above mentions, it's for your own protection.
I'm not saying the teacher is going to drop you in it, but it is a sensible step. Get signatures and witnesses, give a copy to your parents, friends, etc. People who will stand up for you if you're shat upon.
I agree the kid done right, but to all intents and purposes he was being decieved. So... follow the hacker ethic, and use your head:-)
Slashdot Mirror
You are absolutely correct. At the DeCSS trial, the MPAA lawyers said that a licensed DVD player for Linux was in the works, and therefore people needn't have the CSS algorithm.
Since then, it seems to have quietly disapeared(sp?), while there are, as the editorial points out, three OSS/GPL'ed DVD players, none of which would not have happened without DeCSS.
There is much pointage to be had here when debating the merits of various development methodologies, but I'm sure they're obvious to your average slashdot reader.
Um. May I suggest you read this document which explains the philosophy behind the kernel modifications.
Securing Windows 2000 and 'forking' (actually patching) the Kernel were both done with different goals.
In a nutshell, the modifications done to the kernel were done to impliment the 'Flask' security architecture, which (mainly) is about separation between setting and enforcing security policies, and how this is applied to the various types of resources. In addition, SELinux was the by-product of a research project, and is not used operationally by the NSA.
The suggested configurations for Windows 2000 have different goals, and is not a handbook for implimenting the Flask architecture on Windows 2000.
To take from a list of past-times which cost more than drugs if you get too deeply in to them:
... The list goes on. Audiophiles are no different.
The parent of this was moderated as a troll, and while his opinion is probably not the same as the majority here, it does require a better response than "troll", even if it was a troll. So:
There is one major example or government funding GPL'ed code: NSA Secure Linux. And this is probably what MS is scared of. They can make a sales pitch about how MS is secure, but any PHB can point and say 'this is done by the guys at the NSA! We can trust them, right?'*
To which MS has no answer. My opinion: the US government, and for that matter any other .gov, should want to work on GPLed/OSS projects because they want control over their own infrastructure, something that is denied to them if they run closed-source, restricted source, and licensed binaries on their own computers.
A government might also want to work on GPLes/OSS software because it is a public service. The work they have the capability to do could do more to estabilish ubiquitous computing for the masses than Microsoft has ever done. By removing one of the elements of the so-called "digital divide", i.e. price (both in licensing costs and the cost of hard-ware required to run Microsoft software), the government does more for it's citizenry.
*Ignoring the NSA-paranoia - don't forget there are two sides to the NSA, the code-making and code-breaking depts
This is probably in the same vein as the leaked document "NCIS submission on communication data retention law". they proposed much the same thing, allegedle to confirm alibis and track known criminals. It's on Cryptome
It was mentioned on Slashdot, but it was a while ago.
It wasn't clear in the document whether or not it was the content of the communication or the record of the communication. The cost of storing the data (UK only) was estimated at nine million pounds per year, based on the current running costs of the National DNA Database. Initial costs would probably be higher.
Some interesting stuff.
Here. Listen, and you can hear that at least one of the judges was most definitely not impressed with the arguments - specifically, that DeCSS is required for fair use, and that code is free speach.
To quote:
Code isn't expressive simply by looking at it. It's meaning is only comprehended by understanding it. At this point you can see how the writer approached the problem, how s/he handles special cases - all this and more is expressed through the code.
You could say that the problem with code WRT. the 1st Amendment is it's dualism - on one hand, it can be made beautiful, on the other hand, a great piece of code could do something like generate batches credit card (Luhn) numbers.*
You could compare code to musical notation. In some cases, (Bach, Chopin) the notation itself is readable and if you're a good musician you can imagine the piece in your head, just as a programmer can imagine the effect of a piece of code.
But staring at the code is nothing like seeing it in operation, just as staring at the piece is nothing like hearing it. And whereas musical notation expresses music, it could be said that at the lowest level source code is an expression of formal logic or number theory.
*And yes, I know there are legitimate uses for credit card number generators..
Britian may have better TV but you also need a *License* to watch the thing.
Other than that, I often think that Ads are aimed not at as the lowest common denominator - but the lowest common multiple. Which is one.
Is there anything which cannot be programmed?
Correct. Because while your average hacker (in the true sense of the word) would tell the company responsible, and maybe inform CERT, there are hackers who find holes in major computer systems like CITIBANK's, and sell these findings to the Russian mafia for a bottle of vodka.
And I am not making that up. It happened, and CITIBANK were loosing tens of thousands of dollars per month because of it. While your average CRacker would play around in the system, extending feelers, etc., a the HAcker ethic dictates that s/he would inform whoever is responsible for those systems as soon as s/he knew there was a problem.
You are either a troll or a fuckwit. Probably both.
Is there anything which cannot be programmed?
In the UK, part of the TOS for BT's ADSL is that you're not allowed to modify the modem, as it blocks requests on port 80 to stop you hosting a website. I phoned them up to ask about this, and they threatened to fine me for "damage incurred", kick me of the service, etc.
And now it turns out that anyone can do it!
Is there anything which cannot be programmed?
Electronic Arts has a long history of churning out money-makers while screwing creative projects and people they've brought.
There was Peter Molyneux (B&W) at Bullfrog, and then in Bullfrog itself projects you'll never hear of but had real promise like "Creation" being dumped, and people leaving to do their own stuff - people like Bullfrogs second in command, and Mucky Foot.
Is there anything which cannot be programmed?
China claims that the aircraft was in Chinese airspace when the incident occured.
Now, I know China claims national boundaries exending beyond Tiawan, but I think that many people here should be reminded that there's two sides to the story.
For example, try China.com for a different side of the story, or the BBC for a (reasonably) unbiased take on things.
The thing I find funny about this is that there are 1-metre resolution spy-satelite photographs of the airbase etc. at Janes Defence Weekly (Article), (Pictures), which two years ago no-one would have had access to.
Is there anything which cannot be programmed?
This is absolutely correct. The worst kind of thing which can happen to a database company (which is anyone on the 'Net) is pollution. They can filter out some stuff - anything with swear words for instance - but innocent-looking, seemingly realistic, and totally innacurate data is what affects the value a their database.
In conclusion, actively misleading large companies (that sell your data to third parties) with "phun phorm philling" (sorry) is not only a good thing, but should be actively encouraged.
Is there anything which cannot be programmed?
To Quote:
It's called DVD Audio, or DVDA for short. Surround sound. Dolby Digital everything. Audiophiles are going nuts over it.
The release was delayed so they could strenghthen the encryption from DVDs - is uses CSS2, not standard CSS. This is why DVDAs will not work in DVD drives. There are no plans to create a DVDA drive for your average PC, unsurprisingly :-). At least, not until MS has the secure PC up and running.
The entertainment industry isn't going to kill MP3 - Microsoft is. Just as a browser is standard with win9x, so will Media Player 8 be standard with XP. I'd like to take this moment to give a big "Fuck You" to Windows Media Audio.
I 'fess up - I'm an MS Sheep(TM). Then I heard all this stuff about winXP product activation, Office XP, deliberatly breaking WinAmp, burning software, etc - So now I have a dual boot and as soon as I can get decent drivers for my soundcard (hurry up Creative!) it'll be Linux full time.
In six months my sig will be "It was XP or Linux - so: fdisk -a mbr"
Gaaah... You say:
He says:
He's quoting sections at you. It looks like he's devoted some time to the DMCA, or at least looked it up in response to the question.
Rupert's post above is right. The guy seems a little more informed than Y.A.Policitian, and if someone got him clued on the whole DeCSS thing, he would take issue with the ruling. Having an amicus curae from a congress-man couldn't hurt either...
A more approprate question would be:
It is legal to post instructions for manufacturing an atom bomb*, but it is illegal to post the instructions to decrypt a DVD?
For the purposes of comparison, it makes a little more sense :-)
*The supreme court made this judgement IIRC.
To Quote:
They faked his death. N.S just takes us along for the ride. Just before Shaftoe departs for manila there's a description of Bishoff and R.von.H walking someone covered entirely in blankets in to the back of a car. I think. It was one of the things I didn't catch the first time I read the book.
I want to know more about Societas Eruditorium as well. But hey.
Um. This is a proposal. Nothing's been signed yet.
The ugly fact is that DNS is a hierarchical, centralised system, and the one at the top is In Charge. Shame it's Network Solutions :-) Maybe VeriSign can do better?
There I said it. There is a big difference between willingly specifying the ads you want to recieve, your locale, etc. and having the information gathered without your knowlege or consent.
As much as people want adverts to go away without having to resort to blocking software, they wont. Ads as a business model does suck, but they do help pay for some sites.
Ads on the web are a necessary evil, like on TV. However, there are greater and lesser evils.
So, props to the guy for trying to deal with the issue in an open and honest matter. I for one would register interest/locale with ODSN, provided that the data is only used for demographic purposes - and nothing else. I think that being able to have a degree of control over the ads I get served is a good idea. Specifically, voting on ads suckiness, banishing some ("FAWKING DSL" et al) forever, and voluntarily registering my interests.
In addition - why must ads be images? The ad-space would be much better taken up (in my view) with links to "coming soon", "download now!" + feature summary or whatever - rather than crap obviously created by people who wouldn't know good animation if it hit them over the head with a sauce-pan and ran in to a mouse-hole.
AOL!
I have to say my only question for Leadbeater is one from Dilbert: "Since when did ignorance become a point of view?"
It will also be interesting to hear your responses to the predictions made in response to your predictions :-)
But seriously, when replying to posts (as you have chosen to do in the past), click "Reply to this" under the post, as opposed to the "Reply" button at the top.
#include IANAC (C=cryptographer)
As stated in posts above, the practical uses of this are limited to that which you want kept out of the hands of kid sisters etc.
That is, until someone develops a program as an exercise to cryptanalyse the (well-known) cipher. Which sounds like cool fun to me, so I'd be willing to give it a try :-)
Of course, there is the symmetric key aspect, so for e-mail you still need an alternate secure channel.
Despite this, I think it's a good idea, as a starting point in crypto. A good book to get is to read Applied Cryptography by Bruce Schneier(any good book site), and the fishtank libraries by Mr R.J. Hansenare good learning tools.
Disclaimer: IANAL etc. In fact, IAALocal User
In Windows98, the bog-standard CD Player which comes in "Multimedia Accessories" allows you to choose your CDROM drive: The drop-down list contains "\Device\CdRom0", "\Device\CdRom1" etc.
Or (more likely) I'm An Idiot.
Please please please Get It In Writing. Like a post above mentions, it's for your own protection.
I'm not saying the teacher is going to drop you in it, but it is a sensible step. Get signatures and witnesses, give a copy to your parents, friends, etc. People who will stand up for you if you're shat upon.
I agree the kid done right, but to all intents and purposes he was being decieved. So... follow the hacker ethic, and use your head :-)