[mythtv-users] [mythtv] Solution to CableCARD problem?

[Daniel Kristjansson]

On Sun, 2007-07-08 at 11:12 -0600, Tim Moore wrote:
> I’m new to MythTV, so please excuse me if this has already been
> addressed.  I understand the problem with CableLabs certification, and
> how it will be impossible for an open source solution to obtain it.
>  However, I’ve been doing a lot of research into this, and it seems to
> me that there is a solution that has been overlooked.
<snip>

My solution to the problem is to write to my political
representatives asking them to pass a law making the
application of DRM automatically revoke copyright
protection. With some protection for those copyright
holders that have their content DRMed against their
wishes.

Ok, so this is not going to happen anytime soon, but
I think helping CableLabs by certifying MythTV is the
wrong approach to the DRM problem. The best non-political
action I can take is to try get enough non-DRM encumbered
media machines out there so that it hurts the bottom line
of cable companies that try to force DRM on their customers.
When they notice this they will demand lower prices from
content producers that insist on DRM. The non-DRM crowd
gets richer and eventually the DRM crowd shrinks to
irrelevance. There will always be proud fascists, but if
you look at political systems the number of North Korean
type dictatorships is far smaller than it once was. DRM
is North Korean political philosophy applied to software
and will be out competed by open systems, even if it
takes a few years.

-- Daniel