Oh, the humanity: Windows 7's draconian DRM?

The popular technology website Slashdot plumbed new depths on Tuesday with a post about the terrible DRM situation in Windows 7. Proving that some sites will publish just about anything as long as it's anti-Microsoft, the post enumerated the DRM restrictions that Windows 7 apparently inflicts on the honest and upstanding computer user.

What was claimed? Well, some guy decided that he wanted to crack his (legally purchased, no doubt) copy of Photoshop on his Windows 7 install. Windows 7 then sprung into life to break his crack, defend Photoshop's virtue against his unwelcome advances, protect a load of random DLLs from deletion, and open up the firewall so that Adobe could see that he was up to no good. Yup yup. To add insult to injury, Windows 7 then crippled the dude's sound card. Or something.

Full Story: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/oh-the-humanity-windows-7s-draconian-drm.ars

 

[wwoods]

The popular technology website Slashdot plumbed new depths on Tuesday with a post about the terrible DRM situation in Windows 7. Proving that some sites will publish just about anything as long as it's anti-Microsoft, the post enumerated the DRM restrictions that Windows 7 apparently inflicts on the honest and upstanding computer user.

What was claimed? Well, some guy decided that he wanted to crack his (legally purchased, no doubt) copy of Photoshop on his Windows 7 install. Windows 7 then sprung into life to break his crack, defend Photoshop's virtue against his unwelcome advances, protect a load of random DLLs from deletion, and open up the firewall so that Adobe could see that he was up to no good. Yup yup. To add insult to injury, Windows 7 then crippled the dude's sound card. Or something.

Full Story: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/02/oh-the-humanity-windows-7s-draconian-drm.ars

Here let me (in true slashdot form...) fix that for you: "The popular linux biased, anti-microsoft, rumor mill, slashdot...."

There, thats better.

Yea I read Slashdot for the comedy relief....

 

[smarteyeball]

A Operating System should just be an Operating System, regardless of the activities undertaken on it.

It shouldn't be an OS'es job to act as a desktop moral policeman or more to the point, an enforcer to protect other (favoured) companies commercial interests.

 

[dinesh]

A Operating System should just be an Operating System, regardless of the activities undertaken on it.

It shouldn't be an OS'es job to act as a desktop moral policeman or more to the point, an enforcer to protect other (favoured) companies commercial interests.

An OS should also keep an eye on the softwares loaded inside it|
This will help stop Global Piracy.

 

[3Jane]

Dream on kid.

 

[wwoods]

A Operating System should just be an Operating System, regardless of the activities undertaken on it.

It shouldn't be an OS'es job to act as a desktop moral policeman or more to the point, an enforcer to protect other (favoured) companies commercial interests.

Heh, well, lets assume I made a OS for a second, if I made the OS you darn right I would make it favour my apps....and ya know honestly, I see nothing wrong with that.

 

[chmillman]

An OS should also keep an eye on the softwares loaded inside it|
This will help stop Global Piracy.

Oh, (big) brother... !!!

 

[damocles]

I'm not going to be popular saying this but I think OS and software developer should pull together to stop people using cracked software - apart from the obvious security issues, many company's ( small game developers, IT solution, even Adobe to a certain extent) lose a lot of revenue because of piracy. Some of the 'youth' and some older folk I speak to consider it normal to torrent cracked games and software.......I think this is a worrying trend as I really believe they think what they're doing is OK.

Also, if the Photoshop copy is legit - no need to crack it, just call adobe support and they'll issue a new installation key....

 

[wwoods]

An OS should also keep an eye on the softwares loaded inside it|
This will help stop Global Piracy.

Oh, (big) brother... !!!

Not at all, the quote "Big Brother" refers to govt, where this is a company protecting its assets...and that is fine.

 

[wwoods]

I'm not going to be popular saying this but I think OS and software developer should pull together to stop people using cracked software - apart from the obvious security issues, many company's ( small game developers, IT solution, even Adobe to a certain extent) lose a lot of revenue because of piracy. Some of the 'youth' and some older folk I speak to consider it normal to torrent cracked games and software.......I think this is a worrying trend as I really believe they think what they're doing is OK.

Also, if the Photoshop copy is legit - no need to crack it, just call adobe support and they'll issue a new installation key....

I totally agree

 

[xxsilk109xx]

who really cares if you used pirated software, i cant think of how many times software i have downloaded has not done what it said it did, not work as well as it should have, or overall was just a joke. Its like music, who is going to pay 15 bucks for a cd when they know there is only one or two good songs on it?

I still download music and software and some of it I have gone on and purchased, but the bull crap of it is that you cant take it back once its been opened. thats a ****ty deal for the consumer.

 

[wwoods]

who really cares if you used pirated software, i cant think of how many times software i have downloaded has not done what it said it did, not work as well as it should have, or overall was just a joke. Its like music, who is going to pay 15 bucks for a cd when they know there is only one or two good songs on it?

I still download music and software and some of it I have gone on and purchased, but the bull crap of it is that you cant take it back once its been opened. thats a ****ty deal for the consumer.

I am sure the developers who make and sell the software care. As a professional system administrator I care also, and I know several others who care. There is also the fact that just because something is not how you like/want/expect it to be, it doesnt give anyone the right to take something. Does it ?

And your arguement regarding the CD is invalid, you can buy individual mp3's from both amazon.com or itunes.

Dont try to justify it.

And before you ask, I do n ot have one piece of software or song on my system that I have not paid for.

 

[lordbob75]

I'm not going to be popular saying this but I think OS and software developer should pull together to stop people using cracked software - apart from the obvious security issues, many company's ( small game developers, IT solution, even Adobe to a certain extent) lose a lot of revenue because of piracy. Some of the 'youth' and some older folk I speak to consider it normal to torrent cracked games and software.......I think this is a worrying trend as I really believe they think what they're doing is OK.

Also, if the Photoshop copy is legit - no need to crack it, just call adobe support and they'll issue a new installation key....

Just so you are aware, Torrenting itself is not illegal. I have used this to get backups of software CD's I have lost, that I LEGALLY purchased. It is only when you use it to get software that you have not purchased is it illegal. Most new software requires a CD key anyways, and it is that you have to purchase. The actual software is useless without it. Besides, Torrenting basically is the same as going to the vendors site and downloading the software from there, and just buying a CD key.

I don't disagree that Microsoft has that right, and privilege. I could see it being annoying, but as long as you have legally purchased your software, it would not be a real problem.

~Lordbob

 

[damocles]

of course, I know that ......that's why I put in cracked games and software...but thanks for clarifying lordbob.

EDIT: Like I said before - if you have a legit copy then you have tech support that will resolve most, if not all, problems you may have with it.

who really cares if you used pirated software

My flatmate works as a lead artist for a medium sized games company. Over the past 15 years he has had to change jobs 8 times because the companies go bust due to the lack of revenue - this is a serious problem.....and there's no such thing as bonuses based on sales anymore - which is a shame as they're not that well paid - which doesn't reflect their hard work and talent.

 

[lordbob75]

Ah. Dur. Sorry, I was doing three things at once...

And I agree, it sucks they aren't paid as much as they should be.

~Lordbob

 

[dinesh]

An OS should also keep an eye on the softwares loaded inside it|
This will help stop Global Piracy.

Oh, (big) brother... !!!

Not at all, the quote "Big Brother" refers to govt, where this is a company protecting its assets...and that is fine.

so you guys made me "Big Brother"?
I m just 20.

 

[Element]

As someone stated an OS is an OS and should not be a internet police officer. There is nothing regulating the internet and its usage and there shouldn't be any when it comes to your operating system. Do I approve of the use of pirated software, no. But I also don't approve of companies charging a arm and a leg for a piece of software just because they can. Also how do you tell if someone has converted a CD into MP3s verses someone who has downloaded MP3s? Tagging is not a legit way of tracking as it can be modified, to my knowledge you cannot lock tagging on MP3s to permanently code them as such. So is MS going to contact all record labels of MP3 artists on your PC to alert them you have stolen their music?

Overall its a moral issue to an extent where MS is putting their moral and ethical values onto you the end user. Whether or not you like it or not is not the issue, the issue is do they have that right when selling you this product. Odds are that if this is the case where MS is "policing your OS" it will get shot down, as in this will be removed from the OS or it will be some sort of option that you can opt out of in the OS. It is sorta like the point at which MS was when they were trying to force everyone to use IE for a browser in Windows.

Regulation/policing of personal computers is no different than say having no kind of search warrant and then the police hacking someones pc searching for pornography and finding child porn and then arresting them. It's just not legal, and even though at this point since Windows 7 is still in beta this issue has not come to great light of the public, odds are when it does there will be some sort of uproar from the public about privacy and that this violates the personal and privacy rights of end users.

 

[wwoods]

As someone stated an OS is an OS and should not be a internet police officer. There is nothing regulating the internet and its usage and there shouldn't be any when it comes to your operating system. Do I approve of the use of pirated software, no. But I also don't approve of companies charging a arm and a leg for a piece of software just because they can. Also how do you tell if someone has converted a CD into MP3s verses someone who has downloaded MP3s? Tagging is not a legit way of tracking as it can be modified, to my knowledge you cannot lock tagging on MP3s to permanently code them as such. So is MS going to contact all record labels of MP3 artists on your PC to alert them you have stolen their music?

Overall its a moral issue to an extent where MS is putting their moral and ethical values onto you the end user. Whether or not you like it or not is not the issue, the issue is do they have that right when selling you this product. Odds are that if this is the case where MS is "policing your OS" it will get shot down, as in this will be removed from the OS or it will be some sort of option that you can opt out of in the OS. It is sorta like the point at which MS was when they were trying to force everyone to use IE for a browser in Windows.

Regulation/policing of personal computers is no different than say having no kind of search warrant and then the police hacking someones pc searching for pornography and finding child porn and then arresting them. It's just not legal, and even though at this point since Windows 7 is still in beta this issue has not come to great light of the public, odds are when it does there will be some sort of uproar from the public about privacy and that this violates the personal and privacy rights of end users.

A couple points here, one, you do not OWN the OS in the case of Microsoft, therefore it is well within their right to determine what can/cant be done with their software.

Second, microsoft is not putting any moral or ethical values on anyone, a cracked/hacked piece of software (as specifically described in the article) is illegal. Wether you morally agree or not is moot, illegal is illegal untill the law is changed.

Third, your point about a search of your computer without a warrent is invalid, you assume in that case there is no probable cause or legal reason, there are several scenarios where a PC may be/has been searched without a warrent. (case in point, comming into the USA from any country, customs has the legal authority and right to search your laptop/pc).

 

[Element]

A couple points here, one, you do not OWN the OS in the case of Microsoft, therefore it is well within their right to determine what can/cant be done with their software.

Second, microsoft is not putting any moral or ethical values on anyone, a cracked/hacked piece of software (as specifically described in the article) is illegal. Wether you morally agree or not is moot, illegal is illegal untill the law is changed.

Third, your point about a search of your computer without a warrent is invalid, you assume in that case there is no probable cause or legal reason, there are several scenarios where a PC may be/has been searched without a warrent. (case in point, comming into the USA from any country, customs has the legal authority and right to search your laptop/pc).

1) While ownership of the OS itself no, the use of it my PC and how it functions yes. You are NOT required to download updates/patches or even communicate with MS after you purchase and install/validate the software.

2) By policing your computer and accessing your private files no matter of what type it is pushing moral and ethical issues of privacy. Cracking of software is not illegal worldwide and Microsoft is used in the worldwide market of PCs, technically this is a loophole but nonetheless it is valid. I am not defending pirated/cracked software, I support the fact we as users of computers and software should have the right to privacy and this type of action on microsoft's part is a violation of privacy no matter the intent.

3) Probable cause or not, violating direct privacy rights is breaking the law no matter the intent(even if you believe in the patriot act). I am not suggesting searching pc's has not been done, I am saying hacking into someones machine, and searching the computer without consent and probably cause. Your argument about customs is totally different, you are talking there about a pc that comes from another country into the US that is subject to the search and seizure laws applicable when entering our country. That is in no way the same as an operating system on a PC checking your computer for what it thinks may be pirated or cracked software.


Finally I do NOT think its microsoft's job to police a personal computer, what is next will they regulate what sites you can and cannot go to within IE?

 

[MrNeeds]

why is everyone getting annoyed at this?
correct me if im wrong, but the DRM is to do with the software installed is it not? its nothing to do with microsoft, its adobe and their anti-piracy rights, thusly naming and shaming the user for altering their files, its printed in the EULA licence agreement when they attempt to install the software, if they start hacking or modifying the files, then they are in breach of the agreement, a corrupt OS is their own fault, but on the flip side of the coin, adobe are in breach of agreement with microsoft as it is illegal to alter files and folders to change or modify the operating systems funtionality.