Hmm... I don't know much about TCPA, but after reading the links in your
sig here are some questions and comments. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Do you mean that TCPA could be used to create a "controlled" internet?
Would it be possible to deny TCPA sites/information because I'm running
non-TCPA hardware with open source (linux in my case) software? If so,
Yes, in much the same way that current DRM (Digital Rights Management)
software will not run on most open source platforms. For example, if
I were to send you a DRMed Windows Media file for which you needed to
download a license, you would not be able to play it (or at least you
couldn't the last time I tried such a thing :> ). Same deal with
Apple's iTunes Music Store.
The only difference that TCPA will make is that it will add a hardware
component to allow for stronger DRM.
then why are only so few people warning about this? How long do you think
So few?!? There are PLENTY of people who have TOTALLY overreacted
about this stuff!
it would take to implement TCPA so widely that open source users would be
affected?
Depends on the media companies and consumer's willingness to put up
with PITA DRM software. So far consumers have not be overly in favor
of overly strong DRM controls.
Of course, you're going on the assumption that Linux will ignore TCPA
and not make use of the functionality, some of which is potentially
very useful stuff (from a security standpoint, DRM is only one part of
the whole package). There's no good reason why Linux couldn't support
TCPA and DRM in a very user-controlled sort of way. The real fear
with regards to this whole TCPA deal is that people are worried it
will be very Microsoft-controller rather than user-controller. Most
of these fears are fueled by the same people who wear snazzy tin-foil
hats so that the suns reflection will blind the pilots of the black
helicopters flying overhead... however a few of the fears may be
valid. MS has not exactly shown itself to be overly concerned with
helping their customers, more just screwing them over for more money
because they haven't had any other choice.
I'd think that this would result into a new, open source
"internet", parallel to the "evil one". Open source software is introduced
in government institutes in Europe nowadays, I'd think that it wouldn't
take too long before open source has significant impact, or is this just
wishful thinking?
Open source already has significant impact. Sales of Linux servers
are measured in the hundreds of millions of dollars these days, and
almost all of the commercial Unix vendors include a significant
quantity of open-source software along side their proprietary code.
One need only look to web servers to see that open source is
definitely here to stay, given that Apache (open source) is far and
away the leading HTTP server out there, having more than twice as many
users as the nearest competitor (the closed-source MS IIS).
