i guess i'm not as paranoid as i thought i might be:
GNU Questions: RMS on SCO, Distributions, DRM:
http://www.ofb.biz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=260
thor
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul M Foster" <paulf@quillandmouse.com>
To: <slug@nks.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2003 22:58
Subject: Re: [SLUG] Digital Rights Management (DRM) in the Linux kernel!?!
> On Wed, Aug 13, 2003 at 09:21:30AM -0400, thor_consulting@yahoo.com wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> > Linus T. as the creator of Linux and it's
> > "benevolent dictator" has always maintained absolute control over the
> > development of the Linux kernel.
>
> This is and isn't true. No commercial Linux distro ships with a stock
> kernel. They're all patched. Linus has no objection to people altering
> the kernel as they like.
>
> > I can't imagine the pressure Linus is
> > feeling from both DRM and anti-DRM advocates over this matter
>
> Bear in mind that Linus has alway been pretty agnostic about free
> software. He uses BitKeeper for his version control system. And it's
> kinda hard to pressure Linus. He keeps his own counsel on most things.
>
> > but the
> > inclusion of DRM in the kernel coupled with the anti-tampering
provisions of
> > the DMCA will mean that the Linux kernel will no longer be free as in
free
> > speech.
>
> Such patches would still be "Open Source". "Free software" means a lot
> of things, but mostly what it means is you get the source, and you get
> to tinker with it as you like, and redistribute it. Nothing in DRM
> patches violates this.
>
> We're in a continual battle against Microsoft and media companies to
> protect our ability to have a free flow of information. DeCSS is
> software that defeats one aspect of this. Open Office breaks the
> monopoly of "only Microsoft software can read Microsoft files." DRM may
> be part of an evil scheme on its face. But if we can have Open Source
> software that allows us to read DRM'd content, we're simply following a
> time-honored Open Source tradition.
>
> Paul
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