In the software realm, another reason to have a pristine copy is when one legally wishes to install on several machines (such as over a network - or over time). Thing is, does the DMCA intend to develop hardware that can tell the difference between a program and music/movies. It's all ones and zeros to the cd writer or the modem. Or do they intend to create a "multi user license" for the digital distribution of music and movies as well? I don't know about this one, but I do know that an acoustic watermark is no more damaging to sound quality than turning a file into an MP3 in the first place.
As far as "code as art" goes, I think the way a programmer codes a program is an expression of himself. Program code can be as identifiable as painting styles (just look at HTML for example). There are a thousand ways to get from point A to point Z in a program, it's up to the programmer to decide what "clean" (or not so clean) code is. When a carpenter's work is so good that it can be identified as his, it's usually considered artistic. Frank Lloyd Wright built houses. Houses are utilitarian things, but I don't think anyone would tell you that his houses are NOT art. I think if you asked the team that designed the body of a Dodge Viper if the shape they chose was in any artistic, that they would say YES. The way the fender curves is the expression of the people who designed it. I think if you ask any serious coder that they would tell you their code is an expression of themselves.
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In the software realm, another reason to have a pristine copy is when one legally wishes to install on several machines (such as over a network - or over time). Thing is, does the DMCA intend to develop hardware that can tell the difference between a program and music/movies. It's all ones and zeros to the cd writer or the modem. Or do they intend to create a "multi user license" for the digital distribution of music and movies as well? I don't know about this one, but I do know that an acoustic watermark is no more damaging to sound quality than turning a file into an MP3 in the first place. As far as "code as art" goes, I think the way a programmer codes a program is an expression of himself. Program code can be as identifiable as painting styles (just look at HTML for example). There are a thousand ways to get from point A to point Z in a program, it's up to the programmer to decide what "clean" (or not so clean) code is. When a carpenter's work is so good that it can be identified as his, it's usually considered artistic. Frank Lloyd Wright built houses. Houses are utilitarian things, but I don't think anyone would tell you that his houses are NOT art. I think if you asked the team that designed the body of a Dodge Viper if the shape they chose was in any artistic, that they would say YES. The way the fender curves is the expression of the people who designed it. I think if you ask any serious coder that they would tell you their code is an expression of themselves.