[OS:N:] RMS ON DRM

On Thu, 14 Aug 2003, James Michael DuPont wrote:

> TRB: Awhile back Linus Torvalds said he wasn't really opposed to DRM
> technology being integrated into GNU/Linux and suggested that the GPL
> didn't forbid such.
> 
> RMS: The GNU GPL does not forbid DRM features as such, and it clearly
> has no effect on DRM in application programs that run on GNU/Linux,
> because application programs are not legally required to be GPL'd or
> even to be free software. But the GPL may put some limits on some of
> the changes in Linux (the kernel) that would be needed to include DRM
> support in Linux itself.
> 
> TRB: What does the FSF think about DRM -- especially for data such as
> e-books, articles, music, and so forth?
> 
> RMS: DRM is, in itself, an offense against the users' freedom.
> Secondarily it poses a danger to free software--the danger that free
> software will be entirely forbidden for important jobs such as reading
> a DVD or an e-book. So we are firmly against it on principle. 
> """"
> 
> So there you go. It looks like open-source-now is grasping with this
> problem, but it does not seem to bother some of you that it is not
> possible to make free software to handle these tasks.
> 

That's not what he said.
1) The GPL may effect how DRM in the kernel is implemented (duh)
2) RMS thinks DRM is an offense against user's freedoms (double duh)
3) If only closed source DRM software is available, you won't be able to
read DRM protected materials with open source software (triple duh).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Wildman, CISSP, RHCE                                [email protected]
http://www.rossberry.com


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