[U-Boot] U-book and GPLv3? (fwd)

[Jon Smirl]

On Fri, Jul 3, 2009 at 9:47 AM, Richard Stallman<rms at gnu.org> wrote:
>    You'd make me happy if I was able to access cable TV signals I have
>    paid for without DRM.
>
> I think it is not quite correct to call cable scrambling DRM.  DRM
> restricts the use of data you have a copy of.  Cable scrambling
> prevents you from getting the data if you do not pay for the
> descrambler; however, as far as I know, once you do have the
> descrambler, and do get the data, it does not seriously impede your
> use of the data.
>
> So this is more akin to buying a copy than to DRM.  When I speak of
> abolishing DRM, it doesn't include this.

The encrypted digital cable signal comes out from the cable box as
HDCP encrypted HDMI. Your TV securely decrypts this.

A complex loop hole exists in the ability to re-digitize the analog
component out signals. This is what a SlingBox does. The cable
industry is on a schedule to remove component out two years from now.
When component out is gone there will be no more analog hole.

Broadcast TV signals are carried in the clear. That's five out of the
600 channels on a normal cable system. The other 595 are encrypted.

Digital TV spells the end for the MythTV project and to some extent
the death of TIVO.  The only DVR you will be able to use is the one
you rent from the cable company.

So I am paying for those 595 channels with no ability  to archive them
under my control unless I rent a secured DVR from the cable company.
I took the disk out of mine, the information on the disk is encrypted.

Recently the head of the MPAA has been quoted as saying that the only
fair use exemption is to use a video camera to photograph your TV.

-- 
Jon Smirl
jonsmirl at gmail.com