Intertrust Plans Universal DRM System 314
Rushmore and others wrote in with news that Intertrust, which has a large DRM patent portfolio, is planning a universal DRM scheme for consumer electronics.
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Intertrust Plans Universal DRM System
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The use of money is all the advantage there is to having money. -- B. Franklin
*sigh* (Score:2, Interesting)
Although DRM will stop pirates, it stops legit users too.
Fortress of Insanity [homeunix.org]
Universal = Better? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Stable Door... (Score:2, Interesting)
Not even Intel, AMD, and Microsoft combined have the influence to "lock-in" everyone, I don't think its possible. Anybody here read Steven Johnson's "Emergence"? The system is most powerful when its run from the bottom up.
ok and not ok (Score:5, Interesting)
"The electronics industry recognizes that Microsoft is a formidable player, but consumer electronics makers do not want to become dependent on Microsoft. They need an interoperable and independent system," Peters said.
DRM sucks, DRM is evil, DRM is the tool of terrorists, robber barons, and Republicans. That having been said, though
Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer to see no DRM at all, and I intend to vote with my wallet as much as possible. But if DRM does happen anyway, I would have a very strong preference for Intertrust instead of Palladium. At least with Intertrust there's the possibility that some vendor will offer a Linux version of the protected player.
legitimate users too? (Score:3, Interesting)
2035: a reflection (Score:4, Interesting)
The FBI stopped by to see me earlier this morning.
Apparently, they found an unlicensed compiler on one of my student's computers. Copyright central has visited the campus on more than one occasion, so I expected this to be fairly routine. Far from it - for the better part of the morning, they questioned me about this kid's activities. Being a college professor, I couldn't tell them much. This was probably the first time that a student was glad his professor didn't pay more attention to him.
I don't think he's been charged yet, but I was able to discover the nature of what he'll be charged with. The unlicensed compiler is problematic, though not technically illegal since it can't sign object code (illegally). Instead, he was found with a great deal of original material - some dating back 10 years or more - that was never registered with the copyright office. Some was on paper, but most of it was on disk. At a dollar per kB, he's looking at close to a million dollars in fines, not to mention a felony conviction.
But I think that's the least of his worries. About 15 years ago, unlicensed media formats became illegal. In order to record music or video today, you must use one of the state-approved formats which incorporate DRM, and you have to digitally sign the file. Given that the encoders are patented and held by private companies, it's not surprising to learn that leasing a music encoder (just the softare!) costs about $50,000 per year. And after you are finished recording, a general distribution license costs another $50,000 per year. Writing your own encoder would land you in jail for creating a "circumvention device". Which is why anyone who owns a compiler is viewed with suspicion, even though such ownership is not strictly illegal.
Apparently, this kid had a few mp3 files (illegal format), a few mp3 encoders (illegal tools - a felony), and a plethora of original content which hadn't been registered with Copyright Central. He's probably looking at about ten to fifteen years in jail, plus some pretty hefty fines.
Re:More info on intertrust (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Er, consumer? (Score:3, Interesting)
Err.... Last time I checked, sales were more dependant on the consumer than the peddler.
It's companies that think like this that make small business possible. The stupid, lumbering companies who don't know their arse from a hole in the ground. The companies that have HR folks interview someone for job X who have never done job X but instead attempt to make up for it by asking meaningless, open-ended questions.
The bigger a company gets, the more common the clueless, "well-rounded", ass-kissing employees become the norm, the type of employees that do things not because they enjoy them but to pump up their resume. Passion and specialization go out the window in favor of the clueless git who does what he's told. He did X to build up his resume because society said it would be a good idea. He'll treat his job the same way.
Inside these companies, overhead goes through the roof, management grows exponentially to micromanage the clueless gits who have no independent thought and the company has to run its product with an iron fist to stay profitable.
God bless human nature. Darwin, in some cases, is still shining through.
Re:sneaking it in (Score:3, Interesting)
Don't forget cell phones, most commercial videotapes, cable set top boxes, Palm Pilots, Newtons (ok, kinda dated),
Most forms of "DRM" are fairly innocuous. For example, the "you can't beam this program to anybody else" flag on many commercial Palm programs isn't too unreasonable. And when the cable or satellite company scrambles their signal, or a commercial videotape can't be copied, people may complain (who wouldn't want free cable...), but most people see those measures as a fair way for the companies to keep from getting ripped off.
When people say that they don't like DRM, what they're probably referring to are the complicated, annoying forms of lock-down, like Windows XP's registration process, or Windows Media, or Intuit's fiasco last year, that are complex, unusually restrictive, and annoying to deal with.
This article didn't say where the group was on the DRM spectrum, from "copy protect bit" to FairPlay to WMA. So until we know a little more, it's premature (IMO) to get out the tinfoil hats.
Useful trick (Score:3, Interesting)
When I hear or read about a new book I think might be of interest I just add it to my wishlist. Then once a month I review my list and see what the Used / Almost New price has dropped to. Just Got Digital Biology [amazon.com] published in Jan 2001 for $3 rather than the original $25.
Re:2035: a reflection (Score:3, Interesting)
like storm clouds gathering, and with all that technology for supressing the communication of data, it is not a question of 'if' but 'when' malevolent people will try to exert control over the population. They already are.
Re:"BigBrother.com" now available (Score:3, Interesting)
No, they are trying to force Trusted Computing into every new computer and electronic device. They want to seize control of everything. Before you accuse me of being a paranoid loon, look at this:
Richard Clarke
Special Advisor to the President for Cyberspace Security
March 16, 2002:
"I think we need to decide that from now on IT security functionality will be built in to what we do, to the products that we bring to market." [bsa.org]
"That in effect we are saying together, and you are saying as an IT industry, that from now on the default settings on all of our products as they come to market is for high security."
"TCPA, the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance, is an example of bringing hardware and software manufacturers together. But TCPA is not enough."
"I think we need to have operating systems and applications that incorporate security functionality into them."
"It is not beyond the wit of this industry to figure out a way of forcing down patches"
"ISPs and carriers can insist that when cable modems and DSL hookups are made, firewalls are installed. It is not enough for an ISP or carrier to say, oh, and by the way, you might want to think about a firewall."
"So we have to defend our cyberspace. No one else will do it. America built cyberspace, and America must defend its cyberspace"
The president's Internet advisor is calling for Trusted Computing to be built into ALL new computers and devices. Take special note of being able to FORCE down patches and for ISP's to INSISTING that firewalls be installed. Then look at this:
Cisco NAC allows network access to compliant and trusted endpoint devices (PCs, servers, and PDAs, for example), and restricts the access of noncompliant devices. [cisco.com]
Yes, Cisco just announced new routers to do exactly that. They can FORCE down patches and they can ENFORCE that you have an approved firewall (they can check for any sort of mandatory software). First the router checks if you are running a Trusted Computing system. Then the router uses Trusted Computing to check that you are running a firewall or any other software. Any non-Trusted Computer is denied internet access.
And of course Intertrust's "Universal DRM System" runs on top of Trusted Computers. Encrypted data is "securely" moved from one Trusetd PC to another, or onto Trusted iPods and the like. Except you now no longer have any control over your own computer, you don't own your computer anymore. I have been reading the technical specifications - it's a %$@#!& evil system! If you don't "voluntarily" comply you will eventually be denied internet access. We are sill a few years away from that final step of univeral enforcment by ISP's - but at that point it's game over, everyone MUST submit.
This isn't some friendly "mall" they are setting up. It's an attempt to ram-rod a DRM system into every electronic device and seize control of everything. It's a "Universal" system, remember?
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Re:No faster way to kill DRM (Score:5, Interesting)
No, they want this new "Universal DRM System" to prevent exactly that.
22. What's TORA BORA? [cam.ac.uk]
This seems to have been an internal Microsoft joke: see the Palladium announcement. The idea is that `Trusted Operating Root Architecture' (Palladium) will stop the `Break Once Run Anywhere' attack
The whole thing runs on top of Trusted Computing. They are pushing for this new "Universal DRM system" becuase it is very very different. You will no longer own your own computer or your own devices. They will have a "Trust" chips inside that guarantee them control.
To "crack the system" you need to dig your own personal encryption key out of the chip soldered to your motherboard. Breif info on one such chip. [atmel.com] See page one "Physical security circuitry" and page 2 where it says "if it has been removed from the PC in any way and can also take actions internally"? That means chip is tamper resistant and programmed to wipe your key if it detects you trying to get at it.
And lets say you do manage to dig out the key - every computer has a different key! If you dig out your key that only cracks that one machine. One key extracted, one PC liberated. The TORA BORA plan includes plans for "traitor tracing". If you aren't extremely carefull how you use that key they will detect it and revoke that key. Hell, they might even track you down and throw you in prison.
And before people say they simply won't buy computers with these control chips built in I suggest they look at my other post here. [slashdot.org] In a few of years you may be denied internet access unless you submit.
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Re:Prediction: DRM will continue to hurt the econo (Score:3, Interesting)
I share your hope that some iTunes-alike will convince the RIAA to allow unencumbered distribution. Wouldn't it be great if there were real competition, so a clueful content owner could step in and win by giving people what they want?
Re:No faster way to kill DRM (Score:2, Interesting)
Also, what happens to your music when your computer dies? With music downloaded from ITunes can you buy a new computer and easily transfer your whole library of DRMed music to it and then trash (donate, use as door stop, etc) your old one? What if a hardware failure occures? Issues like these prevent me from buying ebooks with DRM, and will prob prevent me from buying anything with DRM.