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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


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