Posted by: Anonymous Coward
on July 19, 2002 01:47 AM
Could somebody please post a link to where it is written that Linux has been singled out as being unable to have a legal DVD player developed for it? Not a smartass question, I would seriously like to know.
It's technically forbidden by the DMCA - since no 'approved' vendor produced software to decode the contents of a DVD it's illegal for the software to exist. It's not Linux being targeted specifically - it's any OS not 'blessed' by the movie makers. Instead of responding to consumer requests to support a broader range of options, they simply outlaw the ones they didn't create.
OK, here comes the argument of 'they cannot support every nickel and dime platform that comes along!' to which my response is simple: then don't distribute encrypted content. If you're going to intentionally restrict what you peddle to consumers it should be clearly marked with details and full restrictions in plain language and readable before the purchase is made. (How many times have you seen a shrinkwrap agreement that breaking the seal on the outside of the box indicates your acceptance of the terms enclosed inside the box? Oops, you don't want to be bound by their terms, but you cannot return the software as the seal has been broken..)
Learn about Linux
Download Linux
Get Linux help
Re:Here we go again
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on July 19, 2002 01:47 AMIt's technically forbidden by the DMCA - since no 'approved' vendor produced software to decode the contents of a DVD it's illegal for the software to exist. It's not Linux being targeted specifically - it's any OS not 'blessed' by the movie makers. Instead of responding to consumer requests to support a broader range of options, they simply outlaw the ones they didn't create.
OK, here comes the argument of 'they cannot support every nickel and dime platform that comes along!' to which my response is simple: then don't distribute encrypted content. If you're going to intentionally restrict what you peddle to consumers it should be clearly marked with details and full restrictions in plain language and readable before the purchase is made. (How many times have you seen a shrinkwrap agreement that breaking the seal on the outside of the box indicates your acceptance of the terms enclosed inside the box? Oops, you don't want to be bound by their terms, but you cannot return the software as the seal has been broken..)
#