RIAA wants to put filtering software on your PC
Mikey 2 comments
The organisation we all love to hate is at it again, this time flapping its considerable gum on the subject of copyright filtering.
Instead of the previously proposed idea of mandatory ISP filtering to prevent people from downloading music illegally (yeah, good luck with that), the RIAA boss Cary Sherman reckons the onus should be placed in individual computers.
Sherman admits the problem of encryption would have to be addressed.
"One could have a filter on the end user's computer that would actually eliminate any benefit from encryption because if you want to hear [the music], you would need to decrypt it, and at that point the filter would work."
I think the bigger problem would be trying to convince people to install the software in the first place, and any attempt to install it 'behind their backs' would instantly place the software in the Spyware category.
But Sherman has another ground-breaking idea. What about installing the software on the customers cable or ADSL modem? Oh my.
While I agree there is a need to protect artists and producers from copyright theft, this latest scheme confirms that Sherman and Co. have clearly lost touch with reality.
(Comic courtesy of www.toothpastefordinner.com)
CT
Saturday 9th February 2008 | 03:42 AMThat would be one situation where the hackers of the world can do some good. Just like with the root kit, Starforce, or all the other DRM "solutions", the end users who know what they are doing will always be right on the heels of any new tech and expose it.
The real shame is the huge companies can still get away with basically hacking your computer and suffer nothing more that some bad PR (Sony rootkit for example). Until the government steps in and slaps a real punishment on them they will keep making these off the wall enforcement or surveillance attempts.
Rodney
Friday 8th February 2008 | 12:45 PMPutting their software on DSL routers isn;t out of the question. RIAA & Sony are 1 and the same (largely). Sony make a lot of consumer electronics. I can see a future where they could sneak this rubbish in.
Of course, routers with that kind of "value add" would no doubt get found out and be very unpopular with savvy users (plus no doubt firmware flashing will be available to remove it). Of course, "Joe Public" probably won't ever know and will just buy the one Harvey Norman sell him, which will be the one with the RIAA spyware added.
Evil + money often gets its way...