More on Palladium, Your New Worst Enemy

Over the last week I've been meaning to put up some more "fun" personal content, like my experiences at the Rezillos and Simple Minds concerts I attended, along with a few more film reviews. Happily (or sadly depending on how you look at it), projects left on my desk in my absence overwhelmed me and I am too busy clearing the inbox to put up much of that sort of fun stuff. Sorry bout that, hope to rectify it soon.

In the meantime, regular readers may have noticed that I've been talking about an issue that, though it is still a year or two off from full implementation, has occupied that part of my brain that ponders futuristic possibilities. The subject is Palladium, Microsoft's new name for Hailstorm wrapped up in Digital Rights Management and micro-control of your computer and what you do with it. The puff piece on Palladium that the normally-respectable Steven Levy published on MSNBC has now, apparently, been laughed off the net, as no trace of it is to be found there any longer (even in the archives, hmmm). Luckily, word is starting to spread -- and despite the best efforts of the bought-off spinmeisters at ZDNet, c|net, TechTV and elsewhere, the BS is so thick that even PC users can detect that they're being fed a line.

The following quote comes from Roger Born, a member of the Critical Thinking Forum. It basically outlines what I've been saying about this new scheme from MS, and has plenty of good links (one already mentioned here) for further reading. I urge anyone who plans to use their computer seriously over the next couple of years to take a good long look at this material. It's important.

"I have grave doubts about Microsoft's ability to make anything secure on my computer. Palladium is touted as just this security enhancement, and nothing more, but there is a more sinister reason for its use on your PC that you do not mention.

"Palladium means that you will no longer own your computer, or the functions you enjoy now as you use it.

"Palladium means your computer will enforce the DRM (Digital Rights Management), and the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Amendment) to the full extent of the Law. This means that you will not be allowed to download anything Palladium considers copyrighted, since that would be illegal. Nor will you be able to use your computer to burn copies of the CDs you own. It will also mean that MP3 Players, PDAs, etc. will not likely work with a computer using the Palladium firmware/software configuration. In other words, your computer will no longer be your own. This is becoming a '1984' reality, folks!

"This means also that Microsoft will now be able to own the systems of all the computers Palladium works on. This puts them in the enviable position of marginalizing any other OS, including Apple's OS X, Linux, and any open source platform. Why? Because if they own the application that the government enforces the use of, other computing platforms must comply with Microsoft, or be forced to buy and install MS components. on whatever computers are sold in the United States.

"This is great for MS and bad for everyone who owns a computer. What MS could not do using their heavy handed monopolistic tactics, they will accomplish by default, with the help of government enforcement.

"More is at stake here. Our rights given to us by the Bill of Rights and the Constitution of the United States are threatened by things like Palladium, the DRM, the DMCA, DivX, and many other actions currently contemplated by the government. Our basic rights of Freedom of Speech, and the sanctity of our homes from invasion or intrusion are the real issue here.

Here are some good links that talk about Palladium, as it really is."

MS to micro-manage your computer
TCPA / Palladium Frequently Asked Questions
Security for Open Versus Closed Systems

Oh, did I mention -- by the way -- that not only does MS plan to force you to stop playing MP3s and movies (at least, not without paying them each time), but that they also plan to remotely delete any files they think violate copyright and they plan to start charging you a monthly fee for the privilege of operating your computer? Oh there's more to tell. Stay tuned!