The illegality of playing DVDs on Linux

[Jeffry Smith]

On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 9:26 PM, Benjamin Scott <dragonhawk at gmail.com> wrote:
>  Oh, that's a good point.  I was thinking just of the patent
> encumbered stuff, i.e., codecs and the like.  I briefly forgot about
> the copy restriction stuff (wishful thinking, I guess).  Even if they
> would be willing to grant a license to something that could be used by
> a potentially unlimited number of people, the CSS license requires you
> to protect the content downstream of you (i.e., making sure the output
> device is copy restricted).  That can't happen in a FOSS project.
>

The problem with DRM is not truly a FOSS issue, it's that you're
passing the lock AND the key to the person, and trying to prevent them
from using the key in the lock except when you say they can.  Think of
it like this.  You buy a house, but find out you can only unlock the
door with the realtor present.  They hand you the key that's kept
under a rock by the front door, you hand it back for them to unlock
the door, they hand it back to you, who again returns it to them to
put under the rock again.  They tell you this makes your house more
secure than carrying the key on you and you using it directly.  After
a while people start realizing the key is under the rock - anyone can
get to it.  Why do you need the realtor there?  Especially since you
own the house.   After a while, people get tired of this, and start
lifting up the rock and pulling the key out and using it themselves.

At this point the realtor pulls out the agreement they showed you
AFTER the sale of the house that says you only rented the key and
lock, not owned it, and you agreed to only enter your house when the
realtor allowed you to.  And they tell you that they're only available
certain hours of the day, but as long as you only enter and leave YOUR
home during those times, they'll be supportive, unless they decide to
change the contract - in which case they'll post it on their website,
that you're now responsible for monitoring.  If this inconveniences
you, it's your problem.  They're not responsible for any damage or
lost income because you couldn't enter or leave your house at the time
of your choosing because the realtor wasn't available.

Of course, FOSS just makes this security theater kabuki dance more
visible - which may be why they don't like it.