At 11:30 PM 11/21/05 -0600, Shawn K. Quinn wrote:
This reminds me of something else: to a computer, playing is simply a form of copying, the output is simply a video card and/or sound card. Isn't this is, in fact, what makes computers so powerful, that they simply obey instructions without asking questions? Isn't this why every
attempt to block "unauthorized" copying has failed in the end, because the reality is that if it can be played, it can be copied, because playing *is* copying from the point of view of the computer programs?
The most hilarious thing is when a web site "prohibits" copying, even though to view it, you've copied it to your disk. More hilarious is when javascript is used to prevent saving images. Even if you get the OS to obey, there are always cheap cameras. An older videocam can be used to copy a movie off your screen (like a first gen cassette) even if all the video D/As are 0wned by the MPAA and forced to have DRM. (Don't think it can happen? Look at CALEA & Skype, etc.)