Peer to Peer file sharing - Microsoft and the EFF - on the same page
I recently read two papers that discuss
peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, "pirating of software and music and stuff" and the
fact that DRM will never work. One work was by Cory Doctorow and one was by a
group of MicroSerfs. Amazingly, they agree with each other on the basic
premise. DRM won't work.
Cory
Doctorow is a Science Fiction writer and he works with the EFF - the Electronic
Frontier Foundation. The EFF is pushing back (correctly) against a lot
technology initiatives that are meant to make sure you never ever become a
pirate. Cory spoke to a group of MicroSerfs (a term from Douglas Copland -
thank you Mr Copland) about the reasons that DRM is bad. Cory states
that:
(1) DRM systems don't work
(2) DRM systems are bad for society
(3) DRM systems are bad for business
(4) DRM systems are bad for artists
(5) DRM is a bad business move for Microsft.
He does so in a very entertaining way, with much flair and very poignantly. The talk that he gave to Microsoft is located here . It is a quick, fun, educating and entertaining read. How many of those do you come across every day?
In the second paper, a group of Microsoft employees write about the "Darknet " This has become know as "the Darkent Paper" . In this paper, the group describes the Darknet not as a physical and separate entity but as the flow of materials through a variety of means from one person to another - burning a CD, duplicating a DVD, using a P2P program and setting up a shared file system can all be part of the Darknet. The idea being that people like to copy and share. There final conclusion was that we may have some effect on limiting illegal sharing using laws and technology but ultimately there is no stopping the Darknet.
This is an interesting concurrence between the EFF and Microsoft. DRM won't work. So why does Microsoft push so hard on their own DRM system and attempt to lock down all their software with real time activation codes? As Mr. Doctorow put it, "Companies like Microsoft steer like old Buicks, and this issue has a lot of forward momentum that will be hard to soak up without driving the engine block back into the driver's compartment. At best I think that Microsoft might convert some of that momentum on DRM into angular momentum, and in so doing, save all our asses."
Thanks Mr Doctorow for another fine paper and thanks to the few at Microsoft who stood up and talked sense. Now if we could just get Steve Ballmer et al thinking along these lines then there would be a chance of steering the RIAA - crazed rabid attack dogs that they are.
As a final note - Yes. I want artists to make money. I buy music from Magnatune.com where you can get full CD quality music and the artist keeps the rights and gets 50% of every sale. I'm not connected to Magnatue in any way. I just shop there.
- jjp
(1) DRM systems don't work
(2) DRM systems are bad for society
(3) DRM systems are bad for business
(4) DRM systems are bad for artists
(5) DRM is a bad business move for Microsft.
He does so in a very entertaining way, with much flair and very poignantly. The talk that he gave to Microsoft is located here . It is a quick, fun, educating and entertaining read. How many of those do you come across every day?
In the second paper, a group of Microsoft employees write about the "Darknet " This has become know as "the Darkent Paper" . In this paper, the group describes the Darknet not as a physical and separate entity but as the flow of materials through a variety of means from one person to another - burning a CD, duplicating a DVD, using a P2P program and setting up a shared file system can all be part of the Darknet. The idea being that people like to copy and share. There final conclusion was that we may have some effect on limiting illegal sharing using laws and technology but ultimately there is no stopping the Darknet.
This is an interesting concurrence between the EFF and Microsoft. DRM won't work. So why does Microsoft push so hard on their own DRM system and attempt to lock down all their software with real time activation codes? As Mr. Doctorow put it, "Companies like Microsoft steer like old Buicks, and this issue has a lot of forward momentum that will be hard to soak up without driving the engine block back into the driver's compartment. At best I think that Microsoft might convert some of that momentum on DRM into angular momentum, and in so doing, save all our asses."
Thanks Mr Doctorow for another fine paper and thanks to the few at Microsoft who stood up and talked sense. Now if we could just get Steve Ballmer et al thinking along these lines then there would be a chance of steering the RIAA - crazed rabid attack dogs that they are.
As a final note - Yes. I want artists to make money. I buy music from Magnatune.com where you can get full CD quality music and the artist keeps the rights and gets 50% of every sale. I'm not connected to Magnatue in any way. I just shop there.
- jjp
Posted: Sat - July 3, 2004 at 10:18 PM
