[MPlayer-users] Re: Some remaining problems w/ multimedia on Linux

[Rich Felker]

On Sat, Jan 14, 2006 at 07:57:00PM +0000, Reshat Sabiq wrote:
> The Wanderer <inverseparadox <at> comcast.net> writes:
> 
> > Microsoft isn't the problem in this case. The problem is that only
> > people who are willing to keep it sufficiently secret (and, most likely,
> > pay sufficient amounts of money) are going to get legal access to the
> > DRM decryption methods; without those, the content cannot be played.
> > Even getting illegal access and then using the resulting information
> > could get the developers sued.
> > 
> > > Although i do understand that it is likely to exclude open-source
> > > apps as well. Still, it would be a step forward.
> > 
> > In the eyes of those who think that such restrictions on the use of
> > content are a bad idea, it would be a step backward.
> > 
> Basically, it comes down to this:
> 1. Linux community finds a way to deal w/ DRM (and of course fix the glitches w/
> seeking in streams, etc.), if necessary by pulling funds from the community and
> paying for being able to legally implement it.

No, there is no way to 'legally' implement it, if by 'legally' you
mean DRM-enforcing. Enforcement is inherently NOT POSSIBLE on a free
system.

> 2. Linux remains marginalized on the desktop, particularly, in high-interest
> multimedia (most of web-based movies, and pretty much all world championships,
> olympics, NHL games, etc.). The fact that people think DRM is a step backward,
> is a step backward for Linux (or at least that's what it's going to lead to
> inevitably).

Nonsense from the ignorant. Why would anyone download sucky
DRM-encumbered media when you can get all the media you want, totally
unencumbered, off p2p networks??

Rich