[opensource-dev] DRM vs TOS Was: Third party viewer policy

Lawson English lenglish5 at cox.net
Wed Feb 24 09:30:14 PST 2010


Dzonatas Sol wrote:
> Lawson English wrote:
>   
>> For a real life use case, the realxtend developers are currently 
>> debating whether or not it is worth their while to continue to add more 
>> support to SL rather than just go with OpenSim-only.
>>
>>   
>>     
>
>
> If any viewer is under GPL terms, rather it is derived or not, it 
> probably won't comply with the TOS if the TOS mandates DRM.
>
> Software that runs on hardware that enforces DRM is not different than 
> software that connects to a service that enforces DRM.
>
> Obviously, basic login credentials aren't being seen as DRM, yet MAC 
> address, channels, and other means to enforce control of the client 
> software, especially through TOS policy, is DRM.
>
> All those discussion's we've had on this list about "signed-off" scripts 
> and programs, even encrypted, have had their rug pulled. Even 
> Microsoft's one-click programs are affected.
>
> I wouldn't say LL backpedaled on the GPL, yet I will say the DRM 
> movement is highly questionable. I can understand why realxtend would 
> want to not continue support for SL with such cloud of questions. This 
> would have been prevented if...  you know, there is a big elephant in 
> the room.
>
>   

the Naali viewer is from-scratch under a freebsd license. No GPL code at 
all.


Lawson



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