Yesyes, you're preaching to the choir. I want information to be free too, etc. It just occurred to me that by tying the decryption to a time server and sending both the timebased key and a complete algorithm to a general purpose engine that you might get something somewhat effective. To give an example: 12 years ago I worked in a computer store that sold Atari computers. I learned to program on my Atari 400, cassete, Basic, assembly, etc. I used to have fun 'breaking' the copy protection on game floppies. There were some sophisticated methods that a number of companies used, but I could eventually disassemble and follow the code and patch it. (Blue Max was the hardest I cracked: 5 stage load, several multi-sector-with-same-number-same-track protections, and executing code merged from two such sectors). The one disk that I couldn't crack (and I still have it) was the ABC Basic compiler. The compiler was compiled with itself. Since the assembly was just a general purpose engine, I had to follow the p-code/tokenized Basic all over the place. I could never keep track of it long enough to solve it. If an algorithm is only good for a perticular copy of a document and only for a short time, the theoretical possibility of cracking it becomes harder. I want to explore what aspects can be solved and what can't. Obviously you can always take a picture of the screen, possibly capture data in the window/operating system, etc. But, with a modifed X, unmodified OS, etc., how close can you get.
I'd like to explore the technical problems of enforcing copyright restrictions through encryption and custom viewing software.
This job is pretty much unsolvable in the long run, because you have to give all your secrets (algorithms and keys) to your "enemy". You can slow him down a bit, but eventually he'll reverse engineer the system -- especially if it runs on general purpose computer hardware.
Unless each document uses it's own key and randomly selected algorithm(s) and needs online access.
It may be difficult, but it only needs to be done once because the results can be quickly and widely disseminated in the underground. Even without breaking the system per se, legitimate users will figure out ways to copy its decrypted output and give it to their friends.
Of course, that's always a problem, unless things are priced per use so that it's more attractive to pay.
Obviously, the goal would be to get really good copyright material on the net, like first run movies, when we have the bandwidth.
Why is this necessary? Many cable TV systems already carry considerable amounts of copyright material despite having very weak scrambling systems. Even a strong system such as Videocipher II+,
Of course, I didn't say it was necessary... Just musing how effective it would be.
What the photocopy machine started and the VCR moved into high gear, the computer and the network will probably finish. As John Perry Barlow puts it, "Copyright is dead". It's not a matter of whether copyright is morally right or wrong. It is simply going to become utterly unenforceable -- like it or not. Instead of trying to patch it we should find workable alternatives to replace its role in compensating authors for their efforts.
I agree.
Phil
Come on guys, I don't post that much, but you need to crank up your Devil's Advocate detectors. Geesh, doesn't anyone like a good argument anymore? :-() sdw -- Stephen D. Williams Local Internet Gateway Co.; SDW Systems 510 503-9227APager LIG dev./sales Internet: sdw@lig.net In Bay Area Aug94-Feb95!!! OO R&D Source Dist. By Horse: 2464 Rosina Dr., Miamisburg, OH 45342-6430 Internet Consulting ICBM: 39 38 34N 84 17 12W home, 37 58 41N 122 01 48W work Newbie Notice: I speak for LIGCo., CCI, myself, and no one else, regardless of where it is convenient to post from or thru.