Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 10:35:24 -0600 From: Brett Glass <brett@lariat.org> To: NGH <bsd_appliance@yahoo.com>, freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: SSSCA? Message-ID: <4.3.2.7.2.20011010102907.053cfde0@localhost> In-Reply-To: <20011010160854.33276.qmail@web11907.mail.yahoo.com> References: <20011010102544.B57921@lpt.ens.fr>
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At 10:08 AM 10/10/2001, NGH wrote: >I agree with the folks who say that big companies are all for >this legislation. It's very convenient for the >already-established business because it would effectively end >competition from anybody who cannot afford the licensing fees >and certification that will most likely be necessary. Actually, it is very inconvenient. EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT -- including cash cows and ones for which all of the original engineering documents are not available or whose developers have left -- would have to be revamped at immense expense. Take, for example, the InterJet product line that IBM bought from Whistle. Do you think that would be easy to retrofit with copy protection? Do you think IBM wants to spend millions re-engineering it? Do you think that HP wants to re-engineer every one of its printers? That TV manufacturers want to add expensive software to every set? That automobile manufacturers want to add expensive hardware to cars? Let's get real here. Remember, the bill is so broad that it would apply to anything with a microprocessor -- including electronic bathroom scales, pocket calculators, and microwave ovens. This would not only cause massive problems for manufacturers but also for users. And there are many more big companies that USE software than there are that make it. So, even if the large hardware and software companies were in favor of the law, the bulk of the money is on the other side. All that's necessary is to let these interests know about this idiotic law, and even the sponsors won't dare to push it. --Brett To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message
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