dreadedmonkeygod . net

Freedom to Tinker has just linked to a Microsoft white paper (dmg archive copy) which aparantly outlines the hows and whys of Hollywood's interferance in the design of Windows Vista (formerly "Longhorn").

Dr. Felten comments:

These are just a few examples from a document that describes one compromise after another, in which performance, cost, and flexibility are sacrificed in a futile effort to prevent video content from leaking to the darknet. And the cost is high. As just one example, nearly all of us will have to discard our PCÒ½s monitors and buy new ones to take advantage of new features that Microsoft could provide - more easily and at lower cost - on our existing monitors, if Hollywood would only allow it.

This is what all those geeks were screaming about years ago when Hollywood started lobbying Congress and presuring computer manufacturers.

Me, I'm just looking forward to seeing how long it'll take some clever Norwegian to crack the scheme. I love the idea of all MS and Hollywood's expensive efforts made moot in the face of mathematical and technical reality.

All the king's horses, and all the king's men...