Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] MPAA at it again.

[Alfred A. Aburto Jr.]

> John Clark wrote:

> Alfred A. Aburto Jr. schrieb:
>
> > > Marcus Leech wrote:
> >
> > > If they get their way, devices like the USRP would be illegal.
> >
> >
> > Why Marcus?  I don't understand ...
> > Al
>
>
>
> Because the device can digitize a 'video signal'(or any other signal 
> with in its band, or signals translated
> to its band...), and does not prevent such digitization if the signal 
> contains a marker.
Thank you ... but digitization in general is ok, right(?), just can't 
do, ahem, "illegal digitization, of video signals"  ... the A/D would 
detect "illegal digitization" and not allow it, right?  As long as it 
didn't screw up the A/D processing and software required, this may be ok 
I think ...

> The MPAA wants to require all such devices to disable 'conversions' on 
> bit patterns found
> in the signal, and those that don't conform, will be 'illegal'.
I think this is reasonable so long as the performance the the A/D 
processing is not crippled in the act of checking for illegal bit 
patterns ... I'd hope it would have an extremely low error rate so as to 
not screw up some otherwise valid A/D conversion process.

> There is a similar requirement in implementations of 1394 (Firewire) 
> devices which
> disallows 'promiscuous' modes of operation for most consumer, and 
> therefore more
> devices individuals can buy at cheap prices. This effects who can 
> produce 1394 monitor
> equipment, or specialized applications, or do research on such topics a
> 'content broadcast/multicast'...
>
> I expect 802.11 will also be soon 'upgraded' to prevent promiscuous 
> modes to be enabled
> without special versions of hardware, although there are features in 
> the current standard
> which may have to be eliminated, like 'peer to peer' or even 'ad-hoc'...
>
> But heck as long MPAA and affiliated companies can become rich on poor 
> programming,
> monopoly style market capture, etc. we will soon be eating rainbow 
> stew and drinking
> free bubble-up.
>
> Another thought that just occured to me, is I next expect to see that 
> somehow national
> security will be impacted by 'uncontrolled' digitizers... and to date 
> the US representatives
> have groveled at the feet of the admininstration when ever the 
> 'patriotic' card has been
> played.
>
> John Clark
"control", that is what it is all about ... more and more control ... 
less and less freedom ...