[Gllug] EU council streaming petition

[Martin A. Brooks]

salsaman at xs4all.nl wrote:
> Yet
>   

They're not, nor is there any intention to do so, nor has anyone 
_suggested_ there should be.  Don't base your arguments on "well what 
if...?" scenarios.

> How easy would it be for M$ to add encryption to the next version of .wmv,
> such that only Vista/Windows Media Player could legally de-crypt it ?
>   

About this easy   ---->     <----

I don't follow your point.

The streams are not encrypted, there is not indication they are going to 
be.  Your argument is _stupid_.  Had the article said "From Jan 1st 
2007, all streams of EU meetings will only be viewable by MS Media 
Player version X running on Windows Vista and we'll back that up with 
some crypto voodoo" then, yes, your argument would perhaps  be valid.  
They haven't, it isn't.

> It would then be illegal to decrypt it.
>   

Nope. Fair use, despite what our American friends may have you believe. 
The DMCA does not apply in Europe.

> The .wmv format is also patented. Same problem as with .mp3, .gif and jpeg.
>   

Thousands of other things you use on a daily basis are patented without 
you giving it a thought.  Or do you use an open source razor?

> See also the Virtual Dub article I posted a link to. Microsoft could
> threaten VLC with a lawsuit any time they wanted.
>   

Microsoft can threaten anyone with a lawsuit any time they want, as can I.

> Or they could simply change the next version of .wmv to be incompatible,
> like they do with .doc, and then it would require reverse engineering all
> over again.
>   

And?

-- 
Gllug mailing list  -  Gllug at gllug.org.uk
http://lists.gllug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/gllug