Ironically they could have used one on the remote - one of the reasons why ITV Digital has gone under is the pathetic quality of their set top boxes.
I used to have one and the top list of annoyances has to be: 1) The channel refusing to change at all, despite having new batteries in the remote
2) The channel change refusing to take the second digit of a channel change - "No goddamnit I said channel 26 not channel 2"
3) Flipping through channels takes ages as it takes almost two seconds to buffer enough data to display a new channel, so scrolling from Sky 1(26) to MTV(33) would take 15 seconds...annoying if you're just checking to see if JackAss has come on yet.
4) Having to walk over to the box to reboot it (by pulling the power cable out)about once a week, as the box refuses any input from the remote (including on/off)
5)Super low picture quality. I don't know what codec they were using, but from the banding it looked like they were converting the image to 16-bit before converting it into a mpeg-type stream. This is okay for normal shots such as people in a room, but for Star Trek it sucked as any subtle colourations in the background would be displayed as three bands across the screen.
But at least they weren't owned by Rupert "Pay no taxes" Murdoch. I suspect M$ won't buy them as their tech is so bad and they are direct competitors to R.Murdochs Sky One in the UK, and it would probably be a mistake for Microsoft to make him a strategic opponent.
Well you could probably fit this broadband adaper in if you wanted really fast access.
Or you could fit a standard modem in if you didn't have broadband access.
But I guess the real quesion you should have been asking is, what would you connect the console to ?
It is relatively easy to provide hardware support to enable a machine to play games over the internet. It is much much harder to provide exciting online games, and communities that make people want to spend their money playing games online, and it is this that Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are tryin to figure out now.
Indeed the Xbox which shipped with a broadband adapter still doesn't have any games that really use it, despite the online play being one of the 'unique' features of the xbox, because no-ones figured out how to make online games exciting enough and make money (apart from MMRPG)
So when wil you be able to play GameCube games online ? probably when Phantasy Star Online is released for the GC (it is an 'Online' game) and that is meant to be out in quarter 2, 2002, which means less than 3 months.
Ballmers performance was particularly bad in the other parts of the video that Microsoft didn't include.
Other snippets from the video are on ZDNet and show Ballmer being worryingly inept as the CEO of multi-billion dollar company.
He totally fails to remember the products that allow OEMs to build modular versions of the Windows platform including Embedded Windows XP and Windows CE.NET.
This is just another example of why Judge Jackson got so pissed off with the Microsoft executives as they are blatantly lying to the court, and judges hate it when people lie to their face when they think they can get away with it.
(sorry couldn't find a link that doesn't have the annonying ad first)
Campaign for Digital Rights
on
SSSCA Hearing
·
· Score: 1
Perhaps you can join us !
The Campaign for Digital Rights is a consumer group that is campaigning against this type of legislation being implemented in the UK, as well as trying to give support to
We formed during last summer and the Free Sklyarov campaign, holding two demonstrations outside the US embassy, one of which was covered on Newsnight (The only nightly news review program).
We have also been campaigning against copy-protected CDs in the UK, in fact we think it's us that Phillips were referring to when they mentioned 'large scale' protests in their press release denouncing copy-protected CDs.
At the moment we are concentrating on making the UK implementation of the EUCD (the European version of the DMCA) being as sensible as possible, with as many exceptions and consumer rights as possible.
You can find us on the web at UK.Eurorights.org, where we have mailing list discussing action to take.
eR: no - These patches can be critical
on
Missing Kernel Patches
·
· Score: 2, Insightful
Actually the pre-patched code seems to be reserving one LESS page than is actually needed, and forgetting to reserve the last page required.
Admittedly this can't be giving that bad an effect, as it would have been fixed in the main kernel but it looks like it could make the system go BOOM !
The content companies...argue that failure to build copy protection into the very digital environment itself will lead to their industry's destruction.
And if it is built in then large corporation will control how almost completely how we get and watch our digital entertainment.
I will agree with the entertainment industry that the choice doesn seem to be quite simple, either they have complete control of digital entertainment or that they will have practically no control with very few possible levels in between.
However to put the options another way - should we put controls one the much larger electronics and communications industry, limiting their ability to (actually) innovate, restrict how people own their own property by outlawing people breaking in to watch DVDs they _own_ or should we insist that the entertainment industry does what every other business has had to do throughout history and adapt to changing times.
The Internet allows more access to information for more people than has ever been anticipated in human history....they must be able to figure out a way to translate bigger audiences, cheaper distribution and less control to make more money.
Top Quote from Telsa Gwynne it's copy protection - protection as in racket.
Having had a few deep breaths and calmed down a bit, I'd like to add that despite 30 years of terrorist attacks (sponsored by US citizens), the UK hasn't seen it necessary to introduce ID cards.
In fact the only time there was a widespread to detain possible terrorists was the internment in the 1970's, which cause so much hatred of the UK government, that it recruited a whole new generation of terrorists for the Republican cause.
To prevent terrorists striking against you, a country has three options:
1) Stop the terrorists hating you so much that they will risk their lives or commit suicide to hurt you.
2) Have focussed intelligence agencies that can actually gather and act on intelligence data, rather than destabilising other countries.
3)Kill _everyone_ who might not like you.
The US is having a good go at number 3 (3,800 civilians so far and counting), but in the long run methods one and two are cheaper in dollars, lives lost and liberties given up in the name of freedom.
If the U.S. domestic response to terrorism starts to resemble Zimbabwe's, which passed a law in November making it compulsory to carry ID on pain of fine or imprisonment, well, that's something to worry about.
But until Congress passes a law like that -- and until you can't enter a movie theater without the usher checking you for priors -- there isn't all that much to get exercised about.
Er, no Frank, that's when it's too damn late to start doing anything about it.
Once you get to that stage people start becoming afraid of resisting goverments attempts to be Big Brother in all aspects of life, as it becomes a lot easier for the government to make otherwise innocent peoples life difficult by 'accidently' putting false information on the cards.
Oops. We accidentally put that you've got a criminal history on your card...oh well better luck at the next job interview.
Most of the privacy rights -- if there really are such things...
Yes, Frank such a thing does exist in the rest of the world. Here's the government body that protects my privacy and data.
For some, the real problem with smarter, more centralized ID cards is that they give bureaucrats a better chance to screw up more of your life
No there are lots of people who don't like the idea of either government or companies being able to see anymore information about them, than is absolutely necessary.
With the growth of the Internet it is getting far too easy for companies and governments to trade information about their citizens.
Wow, not only did he think arresting Dmitri Sklyarov was a bad idea:
This unfortunate legal action highlights the overly broad terms of the criminal provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"). It clearly demonstrates the intrusion of these provisions on the ability of American citizens to exercise their legally protected fair use rights, (http://www.house.gov/boucher/docs/sklyarov.htm)
but he also gets that the entertainment industry wants money off the public everytime you listen to music or watch a movie.
As NTIA recognized in its letter, one of the foremost concerns reflected in the Congressional report upon passage of the DMCA was that changes in the law could chill the exercise of consumers' traditional "fair use" rights, and move us all toward a "pay-per-use" society.
Unfortunately, the announced exceptions to the rule are so narrow as to be practically meaningless. Fair use is not protected.
...Congress in its next session should act to prevent the creation of a "pay per use" society, in which what is available today on the library shelf for free is available in the future only upon payment of a fee for each use. (http://www.house.gov/boucher/docs/payperuse.htm )
Wow! That'll teach the entertainment industry to only give him $18,500 when the telephone industry gave him $49,000 (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/detail.asp ?CID=N00002171&cycle=2000)
Er, reading the patent, it appears that Xerox have patented the idea of simple alphabet whose letters can easily be recognised by machine and can be easily written.
Seriously though, is it the idea of a simple alphabet that Xerox have patented or the exact 'letters' ?
If it's the first then this is just friqin rediculous, if it's just the exact letters then surely Palm can just change a few characters to make it not be covered by the patent.
From the US attorneys office of North California and their press release.
"For its part, the United States agreed to defer prosecution of Mr. Sklyarov until the conclusion of the case against Elcomsoft or for one year, whichever is longer."
Er, so that means the case is not dropped just deferred, but they aren't going to prosecute him until the case against Elcomsoft is resolved.
Mr. Sklyarov will be prohibited from violating any laws during the year, including copyright laws.
Er, so he doesn't get special permission to break laws ?:-?
"Elcomsoft, remains charged in the case, and the Court in that matter has set hearings for various motions on March 4, 2002, and April 1, 2002."
I don't think this case will get resolved for _years_. There's not that much of a dispute about what actually happened, it's just the interpretation of whether it's illegal or not....and it seems that the US government don't want to see this case resolved quickly, and so it isn't going to be sped through the courts or through the appeals.
Hey, does that mean that my Free Sklyarov T-shirt is now a collectors item ?
Funnily enough the Campaign for Digital Rights was having a discussion about whether CDs can be treated as software(http://uk.eurorights.org/lists/ukcdr/2001 -October/000872.html)
This has large implications for backing music up and/or created mp3s as software is treated very differently to music under UK law, such ""Back up copies.
50A.=97(1) It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use.
So it's nice to see Warner Home video arguing our case.
It's probably just that the Xboxen are crashing every hour or two and it's a lot easier (and less embarassing) for the staff of the shops to put up out of order signs, than to explain why the Xbox crashes when the other consoles don't.
Actually it's not that unusual for pre-release software to crash on consoles( I am a console games programmer) but time is running out for them to reach stability, seeing as the gold disks should be going to master now for a mid-november release.
If the Germans lead the European governments into using Linux (or any other Open Source OS) and the US goverment makes it illegal to own any non-trusted (non-Microsoft) OS through the SSSCA, then it is possible that people on different sides of the Atlantic would be split to using different computer systems.
Personally I think this would be great for European software companies as they would have opportunities that US companies would normally go for.
Not so great for any non-Microsoft software companies in America though, if they aren't allowed to write non-secure software for Europe and M$ keeps forcing other companies out of the market place by bundling features with the OS.
It's a bit like the mafia coming round and suggesting to the business's in a neighbourhood that they ought to pay some protection money otherwise their business _might_ have a nasty fire.
Just because it didn't explicitly state that if you don't do what the large thuggish organisation wants (mafia/RIAA) then bad things will happen to you, most people would still feel enough of a threat to take the easy route and avoid any trouble.
Or hopefully go to the police/courts to try to stop the mafia/RIAA from blackmailing them.
As the people who bombed the WTC are a terrorist organisation, they will not surrender or present an easily attackable and destroyable target, but will just hide amongst the innocent population of Afghanistan.
The only way to stop a determined terrorist threat is to either exterminate them all, and all their supporters (which would be several _hundred_ thousand people) or to understand why they are willing to give up their lives to strike at the USA and the west.
The authorities in the west (and the general population) should be asking why do intelligent, educated people commit suicide ? What drives them to do so ?
Technology helps the military kill people at a distance, whether they are guilty or innocent, but it does not help people understand the other sides point of view and reasons for fighting and so won't help this conflict to come to a swift conclusion.
We will be protesting outside major record stores throughout the UK this Saturday against these new 'copy-protected' cds.
Details of the protest can be found here, including the leaflet we will be handing out.
The cities targeted so far are Edinburgh, Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Glasgow, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Rugby.
btw the probable reason for not releasing copy-protected cds in the UK, is that we have some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the world, including the Trading Standards Authority and the Advertising Standards Agency.
To use the 'secure' version of MediaPlayer you have to agree to Microsoft being able to install any software they like, and disable any other programs.
From the EULA agreement for MediaPlayer 7.1:
Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management ("Secure Content"), Microsoft may provide security related updates to the OS Components that will be automatically downloaded onto your computer. These security related updates may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other software on your computer. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update.
Does anyone else have a problem with this ? Every C.T.O. in the world should be alarmed at Microsoft being able to download and run any code they feel like, as well as switching any other programs off that they don't like.
In the UK a group of people have formed the Campaing for Digital Rights (CDR;), and our web site can be found at http://uk.eurorights.org/
At the moment we are campainging for three things: Consumer Digital Rights,with regard to use-restricted cd's, to free Dmitry Sklyarov and to prevent dumb laws like the EUCD (Europes version of the DMCA) from being passed.
We have held a couple of protests outside the US embassy, to ask for Dmitry to be released, the first of which had a ten minute report on NewsNight, the BBC news review program.
On October the 6th we are going to start our leafletting campaign to raise awareness of the new brain-damaged cd's being released. A copy of the leaflet can be downloaded from http://uazu.net/cd/index.html
Slashdot Mirror
Ironically they could have used one on the remote - one of the reasons why ITV Digital has gone under is the pathetic quality of their set top boxes.
I used to have one and the top list of annoyances has to be:
1) The channel refusing to change at all, despite having new batteries in the remote
2) The channel change refusing to take the second digit of a channel change - "No goddamnit I said channel 26 not channel 2"
3) Flipping through channels takes ages as it takes almost two seconds to buffer enough data to display a new channel, so scrolling from Sky 1(26) to MTV(33) would take 15 seconds...annoying if you're just checking to see if JackAss has come on yet.
4) Having to walk over to the box to reboot it (by pulling the power cable out)about once a week, as the box refuses any input from the remote (including on/off)
5)Super low picture quality. I don't know what codec they were using, but from the banding it looked like they were converting the image to 16-bit before converting it into a mpeg-type stream. This is okay for normal shots such as people in a room, but for Star Trek it sucked as any subtle colourations in the background would be displayed as three bands across the screen.
But at least they weren't owned by Rupert "Pay no taxes" Murdoch. I suspect M$ won't buy them as their tech is so bad and they are direct competitors to R.Murdochs Sky One in the UK, and it would probably be a mistake for Microsoft to make him a strategic opponent.
Well you could probably fit this broadband adaper in if you wanted really fast access.
Or you could fit a standard modem in if you didn't have broadband access.
But I guess the real quesion you should have been asking is, what would you connect the console to ?
It is relatively easy to provide hardware support to enable a machine to play games over the internet. It is much much harder to provide exciting online games, and communities that make people want to spend their money playing games online, and it is this that Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are tryin to figure out now.
Indeed the Xbox which shipped with a broadband adapter still doesn't have any games that really use it, despite the online play being one of the 'unique' features of the xbox, because no-ones figured out how to make online games exciting enough and make money (apart from MMRPG)
So when wil you be able to play GameCube games online ? probably when Phantasy Star Online is released for the GC (it is an 'Online' game) and that is meant to be out in quarter 2, 2002, which means less than 3 months.
Ballmers performance was particularly bad in the other parts of the video that Microsoft didn't include.
.NET.
Other snippets from the video are on ZDNet and show Ballmer being worryingly inept as the CEO of multi-billion dollar company.
He totally fails to remember the products that allow OEMs to build modular versions of the Windows platform including Embedded Windows XP and Windows CE
This is just another example of why Judge Jackson got so pissed off with the Microsoft executives as they are blatantly lying to the court, and judges hate it when people lie to their face when they think they can get away with it.
(sorry couldn't find a link that doesn't have the annonying ad first)
Perhaps you can join us !
The Campaign for Digital Rights is a consumer group that is campaigning against this type of legislation being implemented in the UK, as well as trying to give support to
We formed during last summer and the Free Sklyarov campaign, holding two demonstrations outside the US embassy, one of which was covered on Newsnight (The only nightly news review program).
We have also been campaigning against copy-protected CDs in the UK, in fact we think it's us that Phillips were referring to when they mentioned 'large scale' protests in their press release denouncing copy-protected CDs.
At the moment we are concentrating on making the UK implementation of the EUCD (the European version of the DMCA) being as sensible as possible, with as many exceptions and consumer rights as possible.
You can find us on the web at UK.Eurorights.org, where we have mailing list discussing action to take.
Actually the pre-patched code seems to be reserving one LESS page than is actually needed, and forgetting to reserve the last page required.
Admittedly this can't be giving that bad an effect, as it would have been fixed in the main kernel but it looks like it could make the system go BOOM !
I meta-moderate most days of the week, however I have yet to see _any_ moderations on this entire thread pass my way. wtf ?
Are some moderations excluded from the meta-moderation system ?
Moderation Totals: Offtopic=272, Flamebait=4, Troll=26, Redundant=3, Insightful=72, Interesting=158, Informative=32, Funny=8, Overrated=11, Underrated=48, Total=634.
How long till we reach 1000 ?
Well it has now ! 11:30 next morning.....
brrp. flup. wibble.
Moderation Totals: Offtopic=213, Flamebait=4, Troll=25, Redundant=3, Insightful=57, Interesting=120, Informative=29, Funny=7, Overrated=9, Underrated=37, Total=504.
I don't have a lot of karma but I can spare a little.
The content companies...argue that failure to build copy protection into the very digital environment itself will lead to their industry's destruction.
And if it is built in then large corporation will control how almost completely how we get and watch our digital entertainment.
I will agree with the entertainment industry that the choice doesn seem to be quite simple, either they have complete control of digital entertainment or that they will have practically no control with very few possible levels in between.
However to put the options another way - should we put controls one the much larger electronics and communications industry, limiting their ability to (actually) innovate, restrict how people own their own property by outlawing people breaking in to watch DVDs they _own_ or should we insist that the entertainment industry does what every other business has had to do throughout history and adapt to changing times.
The Internet allows more access to information for more people than has ever been anticipated in human history....they must be able to figure out a way to translate bigger audiences, cheaper distribution and less control to make more money.
Top Quote from Telsa Gwynne it's copy protection - protection as in racket.
Doesn't AMD have a patent on silicon burning really fast...
ducks...
Having had a few deep breaths and calmed down a bit, I'd like to add that despite 30 years of terrorist attacks (sponsored by US citizens), the UK hasn't seen it necessary to introduce ID cards.
In fact the only time there was a widespread to detain possible terrorists was the internment in the 1970's, which cause so much hatred of the UK government, that it recruited a whole new generation of terrorists for the Republican cause.
To prevent terrorists striking against you, a country has three options:
1) Stop the terrorists hating you so much that they will risk their lives or commit suicide to hurt you.
2) Have focussed intelligence agencies that can actually gather and act on intelligence data, rather than destabilising other countries.
3)Kill _everyone_ who might not like you.
The US is having a good go at number 3 (3,800 civilians so far and counting), but in the long run methods one and two are cheaper in dollars, lives lost and liberties given up in the name of freedom.
If the U.S. domestic response to terrorism starts to resemble Zimbabwe's, which passed a law in November making it compulsory to carry ID on pain of fine or imprisonment, well, that's something to worry about.
But until Congress passes a law like that -- and until you can't enter a movie theater without the usher checking you for priors -- there isn't all that much to get exercised about.
Er, no Frank, that's when it's too damn late to start doing anything about it.
Once you get to that stage people start becoming afraid of resisting goverments attempts to be Big Brother in all aspects of life, as it becomes a lot easier for the government to make otherwise innocent peoples life difficult by 'accidently' putting false information on the cards.
Oops. We accidentally put that you've got a criminal history on your card...oh well better luck at the next job interview.
Most of the privacy rights -- if there really are such things...
Yes, Frank such a thing does exist in the rest of the world. Here's the government body that protects my privacy and data.
For some, the real problem with smarter, more centralized ID cards is that they give bureaucrats a better chance to screw up more of your life
No there are lots of people who don't like the idea of either government or companies being able to see anymore information about them, than is absolutely necessary.
With the growth of the Internet it is getting far too easy for companies and governments to trade information about their citizens.
Wow, not only did he think arresting Dmitri Sklyarov was a bad idea:
)
m )
p ?CID=N00002171&cycle=2000)
This unfortunate legal action highlights the overly broad terms of the criminal provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA"). It clearly demonstrates the intrusion of these provisions on the ability of American citizens to exercise their legally protected fair use rights,
(http://www.house.gov/boucher/docs/sklyarov.htm
but he also gets that the entertainment industry wants money off the public everytime you listen to music or watch a movie.
As NTIA recognized in its letter, one of the foremost concerns reflected in the Congressional report upon passage of the DMCA was that changes in the law could chill the exercise of consumers' traditional "fair use" rights, and move us all toward a "pay-per-use" society.
Unfortunately, the announced exceptions to the rule are so narrow as to be practically meaningless. Fair use is not protected.
...Congress in its next session should act to prevent the creation of a "pay per use" society, in which what is available today on the library shelf for free is available in the future only upon payment of a fee for each use.
(http://www.house.gov/boucher/docs/payperuse.ht
Wow! That'll teach the entertainment industry to only give him $18,500 when the telephone industry gave him $49,000 (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/detail.as
Er, reading the patent, it appears that Xerox have patented the idea of simple alphabet whose letters can easily be recognised by machine and can be easily written.
Shurely there is some prior art in this area.
In fact the use of simple alphabets possible even predates PDAs.
Also some important books have been written using simple alphabets
Seriously though, is it the idea of a simple alphabet that Xerox have patented or the exact 'letters' ?
If it's the first then this is just friqin rediculous, if it's just the exact letters then surely Palm can just change a few characters to make it not be covered by the patent.
From the US attorneys office of North California and their press release.
:-?
"For its part, the United States agreed to defer prosecution of Mr. Sklyarov until the conclusion of the case against Elcomsoft or for one year, whichever is longer."
Er, so that means the case is not dropped just deferred, but they aren't going to prosecute him until the case against Elcomsoft is resolved.
Mr. Sklyarov will be prohibited from violating any laws during the year, including copyright laws.
Er, so he doesn't get special permission to break laws ?
"Elcomsoft, remains charged in the case, and the Court in that matter has set hearings for various motions on March 4, 2002, and April 1, 2002."
I don't think this case will get resolved for _years_. There's not that much of a dispute about what actually happened, it's just the interpretation of whether it's illegal or not....and it seems that the US government don't want to see this case resolved quickly, and so it isn't going to be sped through the courts or through the appeals.
Hey, does that mean that my Free Sklyarov T-shirt is now a collectors item ?
Only the Germans would come up with an acronym of nine letters. And it looks liks they'll be the only people able to pronounce it ;)
Ski-A-Marquis ?
Funnily enough the Campaign for Digital Rights was having a discussion about whether CDs can be treated as software(http://uk.eurorights.org/lists/ukcdr/200
This has large implications for backing music up and/or created mp3s as software is treated very differently to music under UK law, such ""Back up copies.
50A.=97(1) It is not an infringement of copyright for a lawful user of a copy of a computer program to make any back up copy of it which it is necessary for him to have for the purposes of his lawful use.
So it's nice to see Warner Home video arguing our case.
It's probably just that the Xboxen are crashing every hour or two and it's a lot easier (and less embarassing) for the staff of the shops to put up out of order signs, than to explain why the Xbox crashes when the other consoles don't.
Actually it's not that unusual for pre-release software to crash on consoles( I am a console games programmer) but time is running out for them to reach stability, seeing as the gold disks should be going to master now for a mid-november release.
If the Germans lead the European governments into using Linux (or any other Open Source OS) and the US goverment makes it illegal to own any non-trusted (non-Microsoft) OS through the SSSCA, then it is possible that people on different sides of the Atlantic would be split to using different computer systems.
Personally I think this would be great for European software companies as they would have opportunities that US companies would normally go for.
Not so great for any non-Microsoft software companies in America though, if they aren't allowed to write non-secure software for Europe and M$ keeps forcing other companies out of the market place by bundling features with the OS.
It's a bit like the mafia coming round and suggesting to the business's in a neighbourhood that they ought to pay some protection money otherwise their business _might_ have a nasty fire.
Just because it didn't explicitly state that if you don't do what the large thuggish organisation wants (mafia/RIAA) then bad things will happen to you, most people would still feel enough of a threat to take the easy route and avoid any trouble.
Or hopefully go to the police/courts to try to stop the mafia/RIAA from blackmailing them.
ps Made up word from the document - "justiciable"
As the people who bombed the WTC are a terrorist organisation, they will not surrender or present an easily attackable and destroyable target, but will just hide amongst the innocent population of Afghanistan.
The only way to stop a determined terrorist threat is to either exterminate them all, and all their supporters (which would be several _hundred_ thousand people) or to understand why they are willing to give up their lives to strike at the USA and the west.
The authorities in the west (and the general population) should be asking why do intelligent, educated people commit suicide ? What drives them to do so ?
Technology helps the military kill people at a distance, whether they are guilty or innocent, but it does not help people understand the other sides point of view and reasons for fighting and so won't help this conflict to come to a swift conclusion.
We will be protesting outside major record stores throughout the UK this Saturday against these new 'copy-protected' cds.
Details of the protest can be found here, including the leaflet we will be handing out.
The cities targeted so far are Edinburgh, Birmingham, Brighton, Cambridge, Glasgow, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Rugby.
btw the probable reason for not releasing copy-protected cds in the UK, is that we have some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the world, including the Trading Standards Authority and the Advertising Standards Agency.
To use the 'secure' version of MediaPlayer you have to agree to Microsoft being able to install any software they like, and disable any other programs.
From the EULA agreement for MediaPlayer 7.1:
Digital Rights Management (Security). You agree that in order to protect the integrity of content and software protected by digital rights management ("Secure Content"), Microsoft may provide security related updates to the OS Components that will be automatically downloaded onto your computer. These security related updates may disable your ability to copy and/or play Secure Content and use other software on your computer. If we provide such a security update, we will use reasonable efforts to post notices on a web site explaining the update.
Does anyone else have a problem with this ? Every C.T.O. in the world should be alarmed at Microsoft being able to download and run any code they feel like, as well as switching any other programs off that they don't like.
Dang I forgot, there is an analysis of the copy protection used on the Charley Pride cd on the mailing list which can be found in the archive at http://www.xenoclast.org/free-sklyarov-uk/2001-Sep tember/000648.html
In the UK a group of people have formed the Campaing for Digital Rights (CDR ;), and our web site can be found at http://uk.eurorights.org/
i nfo/free-sklyarov-uk
At the moment we are campainging for three things: Consumer Digital Rights,with regard to use-restricted cd's, to free Dmitry Sklyarov and to prevent dumb laws like the EUCD (Europes version of the DMCA) from being passed.
We have held a couple of protests outside the US embassy, to ask for Dmitry to be released, the first of which had a ten minute report on NewsNight, the BBC news review program.
On October the 6th we are going to start our leafletting campaign to raise awareness of the new brain-damaged cd's being released. A copy of the leaflet can be downloaded from http://uazu.net/cd/index.html
Any people looking to take part in the campaign, should join the (now incorrectly named) Free Dmitry UK mailing list, which can be found at http://mailman.xenoclast.org/cgi-bin/mailman/list