>Microsoft and Open Source have competing initiatives to standardize a
>"protected" section of a PC's hard drive. What are these? How do
>they differ? What's the 'word on the street' about them?
There are no credible sources of Open Source that would offer a
"protected" section of the users hard drive that they, initially, do
not have access to. The concept a "locked out section" of the hard
drive on an Open Source platform simply does not mesh.
Microsoft however, has been pushing it's Microsoft Palladium
initiative which, by all means, will provide "just" that level of
protection against you. Yes, read that line again if you need to get
the jist of it. Microsoft Palladium is a process to allow the Windows
environment to secure off a chunk of "protected" space to store:
(Microsofts View)
Important information such as credit card data, user information, log
file information and "helpfull" data to make your life better.
(The Reality View)
Important data such as, is that copy of Eminem your listening too
legal? When you run Photoshop, does it have a securely signed,
internet activated digital key in an area you can't gain access to?
In a sense, all DRM (digital rights management) information will goto
that area protecting the companies that you purchase software, music
and videos from in a sense, you.
>How will these standards influence copyright protection of digital
>media?
>For example:
>Could Microsoft use the protected section of the hard drive to
>prohibit users from violating copyright law?
Of course. It's a natural progression.
>Could these new standards actually prohibit users from accessing
their
>PC's data?
Yes. Program {X} installs for a 30-day trial. It encrypts the data
stored using a 128-bit RSA key into the DRM protected section. Once
the software expires you either cough up the money to continue or
loose access to your data.
>Will these standards take place on a Hardware or Operating System
>level? Are there ideas to protect copyright law on a hardware level
>(for example a new ATA standard)? If so, how are they logistically
>different from the above for PC markets?
Here's the scarey part. Hardware. Working with Intel, Microsoft will
have new "chips" put onto the board using a technology that Intel
claims makes the chips "uncrackable". That however, remains to be
seen.
>How will these standards influence the MPAA’s and RIAA’s ability to
>distribute and license digital media?
Better question to ask. Think as the MPAA and RIAA do now. They are
convinced that everyone in the country/world is stealing there data.
Now here comes a technology to all but eliminate that if the rest of
the world adopts it.
SOLUTION: make cd's that only play on Microsoft protected DRM systems
that connect to the internet and get a "session" key to play the CD on
yours and yours alone computer. Where would that key be stored? In
the DRM protected chip.
>How will these initiatives compete/interact with other copyright
>protection technology? Is Microsoft making a power grab over other
>technologies like digital watermarking and DVD’s CSS.
Not a "power grab". It's a "who's your daddy?" situation. Microsoft
releases this, making movie and studio companys love them for it.
They, in turn, will make all of their media play only on protected
software which is licensed by (guess anyone..come on I'll give you 1
hint), Microsoft.
>Could Microsoft's "trustworthy computing initiative" force
>Intellectual Property Owners to pay Microsoft royalties to enforce
>copyright law on PCs?
That, goes without saying.
>If Microsoft bundles it’s copyright protection into it’s monopoly
>operating system, could Microsoft then become the judge, jury and
>executioner of almost all Intellectual Property Law on PCs (feel free
>to editorialize here)?
Yes. ( is that enough of a edit? ).
Please offer a few links from technical and credible sources (worthy
of term paper reference, not Wired or PC World).
The Good
http://www.epic.org/privacy/consumer/microsoft/palladium.html
The Bad
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2002/jul02/0724palladiumwp.asp
The Ugly
http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/07/11/palladium/ |
