DRM Company: If You Think Patents Are Bad, You're Un-American
from the protect-protect-protect dept
In our recent discussion about another bad idea for a new type of DRM that will surely fail, Steve R. pointed us to an article in Forbes about Intertrust, the DRM company, who apparently is cooking up yet another DRM scheme. But, unlike the system we talked about in the original post -- where the guy noted that the concept had to be widely adopted as a standard, and not protected, Intertrust goes on and on and on about how it's got a ton of DRM patents to protect this new DRM scheme. This isn't a surprise. Intertrust's entire business model was based on suing Microsoft for patent infringement.And, of course, it should be no surprise that a company that thinks DRM makes sense also believes in the patenting the crap out of everything. But it's quite telling that even the way Forbes describes the company, it's the patents that come first, ahead of the DRM:
Talal Shamoon, chief executive of Intertrust Technologies in Sunnyvale, Calif., believes he has an answer. Intertrust holds a treasure trove of patents that help content owners manage digital rights; it has spent five years and tens of millions of dollars developing a standard called Marlin, which aims to keep content secure in a way that legitimate consumers won't find offensiveIf you're leading with your patents, you don't have a good product. It's that simple. Meanwhile, the article goes on and on about just how many patents Intertrust has, and doesn't actually get around to describing "Marlin" until many paragraphs later. It doesn't sound particularly unique or special. Basically, it's still DRM that allows you to make limited copies. Yippee.
But, really, the most stunning line in the whole article is this lovely gem:
"I think it's un-American to think that patents are bad."That's from Intertrust's CEO. It's quite a statement given the tons of evidence that patents have been a net negative on innovation and a massive waste of resources for most tech companies. It's un-American to want innovation to move faster? It's un-American to think that companies shouldn't be throwing money away on protectionist schemes? I'd love to better understand how. The purpose of the patent system is not to create more patents, it's "to promote the progress." If evidence suggests patents are not doing that, how is it possibly "un-American" to complain about that and try to change things?
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Filed Under: drm, patents, un-american
Companies: intertrust
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I think it's un-American to worship Patent as God
All I am saying is that, how many un-American stuff can you do these days?
-Questioning Department of Home Land Security? un-American.
-Complain about broken patent system? un-American.
-banning plastic bag? un-American. (look up on wiki)
-join international effort on reducing greenhouse gas? un-American.
-ending war and promote peace? un-American.
-right to privacy? un-American
-fair use? un-American
-joining the House Committee on Un-American Activities? Un-American.
Oops, maybe not the last one. I think they actually monitor un-American activities.
Thank Goodness I am the happy-go-lucky, beaver-loving, music/software-pirating Canadian. (Hey, it's a honour to be on the watch list. It means we are not caving in to US BS.)
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Re: I think it's un-American to worship Patent as God
Actually, it means we haven't caved...for now.
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Re: Re: I think it's un-American to worship Patent as God
Damn mockery of a open consultation! *shaking fist*
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I think his point is that it's un-American to hurt the status quo.
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republican?
Not saying liberal is any better, but way to say which side they're on huh
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Re:
Might be a fun little set of project to be an "un-american" capitalist.
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Re: Re:
Might be a fun little set of project to be an "un-american" capitalist.
Well, we can get an ex Vice President invent a problem, and make a mockumentary about it with poor science, and we can invest in his financial companies that will make a bunch of money when everyone starts to believe.
And then we can call everyone who doesn't believe in "Global Warming" un-american, while we rake in the money.
Oh, that's right... this is already being done. Besides, it's not really status quo; climate has always changed. Rapidly sometimes; ask the dinosaurs.
--GJ--
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Re:
So he's a communist, you mean?
Personally I just think he's too full of hi'self.
If it's "un-American" not to have to pay $3 per pill, to be for innovation rather than innovating different means of circumvention, then who cares?
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Is this guy for real? I smell an internet meme
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Hmmm...
For those that don't remember SDMI, here's a link. I take it that Tatal is one of the guys that made Ed Felten's team famous.
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Greatest Argument Ever!!!!
Gotta love the "If you believe this, you're un-American argument". Haven't heard it used in a sentence since someone explained why Apple Pie with American Cheese and an American flag stuck in it is the greatest desert ever.
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I pledge Allegiance to...
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Sigh, time for anoter decree, what is this, #4?
Interesting concept. Before I begin splintering your stupidity and associating you with all types of assclowns that use nationalism to advance their idiotic agendas, I have a question, Mr. Shamoon: Are you an American, and for how long have you retained full citizenship?
I'm not saying you aren't, but the only thing I seem to be able to dig up on your past prior to your corporate positions is a stint at the American University in Paris, which is a fine institution except that it is also generally a school for folks of various nationalities who are preparing to immigrate to America. A quick rundown of some of their notable alumni on wikipedia reveals some Americans learning abroad, but just as many French, Canadian, and Italian citizens when attending the school.
Now, on to the greater point, you idiotic little person. And I want EVERYONE to pay attention here, from the "Iraq War was awesome all around" conservatives, to the "Universal Healthcare will be just fine, trust us" liberals, to the "Leae me the fuck alone" libertarians, and the "Cannabis! The answer to everything is Cannabis!" hippies:
Decree: The ONLY thing that is un-American, and I do mean ONLY, is the insistence that one specific viewpoint is the American way and that any dissenting views are traitorous. And yes, I know I'm being hypocritical, I'm okay with it. Call me the new Jesus Christ: I'm willing to be un-American to get everyone else on the same path.
Again, debate, dissenting opinions, popular support, public opinion, informed opinion, uninformed drivel: it's ALL American, dammit. Stop trying to tie your narrow little viewpoints to the flag and just make sense instead.
And Shamoon, you little oddly named Nazi, just shut the fuck up.
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Re: Sigh, time for anoter decree, what is this, #4?
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Re: Re: Sigh, time for anoter decree, what is this, #4?
But at least I have that one per day :)
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Re: Re: Re: Sigh, time for anoter decree, what is this, #4?
If it's between that rant and a good BM, I say poop tomorrow.
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Re: Re: Re: Re: Sigh, time for anoter decree, what is this, #4?
What, exactly, do you find wrong with it?
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Re: Sigh, time for anoter decree, what is this, #4?
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Patents
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Re: Patents
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Re:
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The american way of doing things has always been to force its agenda/beliefs upon others by either force(financing assasination plots to get rid of figure heads that do not line up with our interests or to simply exterminate them like native americans), extortion (You know like when a record producer pays cents on the dollar to a recording artist then charges you 1000 times for the fruit of that artist's labor), lying (You know like when a life saving medical treatment is considered unnecessary by a board of medical experts who work for an insurance company that pays them six figure bonuses the more they deny you that procedure).
I think it is time for all of you, high-horse-upturned nose-america-is-holy-and-righteous-loving-idiots, to accept your legacy and that when the world embraces it and uses it against you, you should simply shut the fuck up.
In fact you should be glad that a foreign national has embraced the american way of doing things. You've led by example and the world is following your footsteps.
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Re:
Never mistake our leadership for our citizens, they ain't the same thing. And no matter what our government tells you, the majority of people in this country DON'T elect ANYONE.
Hell, if we're lucky, you've got 55% voter turnout, and most races are relatively tight, meaning that maybe they win by 60% at most. That means at best, most of our elected officials were put there by somewhere around a third of our eligable voters.
And with some of the eggregious manipulating of candidates, some of the choices aren't truly choices.
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Re: Dark Helmet
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Re: Re: Dark Helmet
You obviously have only been watching/reading the news sources that DON'T show the millions of people all over this country who are out there doing just that....and the damn politicians don't listen, because they're salary is already guaranteed for life regardless of whether or not they're in office (didn't know that one did ya, folks)
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Re: Re: Re: Dark Helmet
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Re: Re: Dark Helmet
Really, do tell, what was that real issue of yours?
Your presumption of what the fabled american way is? Or that everyone that adheres to, or actually know what the american way is, and like it, are pretty much a daft asshole?
Or was it that little drivel about america forcing its way? Do tell, please do, which nation or people didn't force its way during the 19th century onward to, like, yesterday?
Rhetorical exercise my ass. Here's a rhetorical exercise: Jump up and down, until you get all woozy.
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Re: Re: Re: Dark Helmet
I dont think his point was that america forced its way into the world, but rather one single way of thinking shouldnt be forced onto america. The point that america was/ has been forceful is a small one at best. The important thing is that we stay open minded and not just suck Mr. DRM's wang because he says its the only way.
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Re:
There, fixed that for ya
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How appropriate...
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Keep it up. If for nothing else than to shove it down their throats, keep it up.
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If you think you can dictate to us what constitutes an American citizen, you're Un-American (since America is not a dictatorship where your opinion is the ultimate authority over what constitutes American opinion. No, we have freedom of speech exactly to encourage a diverse range of views).
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Don't bother teaching a pig to sing
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WTF
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But the children
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stop the shilling!!!
What would you have them do, create a new technology and let the big firms just use it at will without compensation? Get real!
So how much does Microsoft and their thieving friends pay you to write this trash?
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Re: stop the shilling!!!
No, I would have them compete in the market. Just like every business.
So how much does Microsoft and their thieving friends pay you to write this trash?
Nothing. I have pointed this out to you before. I'm not sure why you repeat it. The editorial on Techdirt is under my control alone. We would never sell it.
And I don't understand why you would think it's Microsoft, considering I've trashed their patent policies repeatedly.
But, I guess reading comprehension might not be your strong suit.
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newest jordan shoes
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