[Free-sklyarov-uk] Microsoft patents DRM OS

[Matthew Johnson]

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On Thursday 13 December 2001 6:12 pm, you wrote:
> It appears to be a system whereby a computer will run only signed code,
> code trusted by signed code, or insist on unloading all DRM-using software
> before loading any non-DRM software.
>
> From the patent:
>
> "The user that possesses the digital bits often does not have full rights
> to their use; instead, the provider retains at least some of the rights.
> In a very real sense, the legitimate user of a computer can be an
> adversary of the data or content provider. "Digital rights management" is
> therefore fast becoming a central requirement if online commerce is to
> continue its rapid growth."
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/23387.html links to the silly long
> patent URL and a copy at http://cryptome.org/ms-drm-os.htm
> Cryptome has various other interesting documents on it.
>
> The apparent mechanism is in three parts: some OS hackery with page files
> and refusing to allow processes to attach to DRM processes (fair enough),
> then some weird processor-level protection which appears to involve
> equipping CPUs with UNIQUE public and private keys.
>
> This isn't a current threat because of the hardware requirement, but if it
> is ever implemented it'll make the CPU serial number fiasco look like a
> storm in a teacup.
>
> Pete

In itself this is not a bad thing - we would never want an OS that does this, 
so infinging the patent is not a problem. However, in the SSSCA, which was 
recently  proposed to congress to be made law in the States, I believe it 
says that all devices capable of processing binary data must essentially have 
DRMs built in. Not only would OS's without such things be illegal, even if 
you did comply with it, you would then be violating Microsoft's patent!

Unless I've read it wrong, these two together would, by law, force everything 
to run a Microsoft OS.

Quite apart from the CPU key things (and obviously all of the hardware would 
have to be certified, otherwise whats you stop you wiring an optical out into 
an optical in, or even building a sound card that runs the two together 
without ever going to analogue?) this appears to be a bad thing, even if the 
patent isn't as overly broad as some they've let through in the past!

oh, and heres the /. article for anyone interested : 
http://slashdot.org/articles/01/12/12/1931218.shtml

Also, having just read that /. article.... even without the SSSCA (or 
similar) forcing ppl to use specific OS's - anything thats even remotely 
encrypted to only be playable on a DRM enabled OS would, of course, be 
covered by the DMCA/EUCD so we couldn't read it in anything else either.... 
again Microsoft extend their monopoly - this time via patants and copyright 
law.....

- -- 
Matthew Johnson. <techieguy at breathemail.net>

Why the EU-CD is bad - don't let this become law!
http://eurorights.org/eudmca/WhyTheEUCDIsBad.html

"They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
- -- Benjamin Franklin

"Those who desire to give up Freedom, in order to gain Security,
will not have, nor do they deserve, either one."
- -- Thomas Jefferson

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