TCPA? Be afraid

[eldren]

Applicable to both Computer Hardware [and Overclocking] and Internet [and Networking], yet it doesn't quite fit either category. Anyhow.

*climbs on his soap-box*

The Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA) is a system designed to take away your freedom. (Why does that sound so Matrix-like? ) It is a system designed to take control of what you can and cannot do with your own computer, and eventually, any electronic device you own. It is a system that needs to be stopped.

Quick and dirty explanation: http://www.notcpa.org/about.html
Longer, in-depth FAQ: http://www.againsttcpa.com/tcpa-faq-en.html

And you wondered why I refuse to use WindowsXP?

[TiG]

Eldren,

Its called scaremonger tactics. You make a machine like this and you've just killed off half of your market. Even intel and ms can't pull something like this off.

Can't you remeber the hassle intel got for the serial id's on the processors a few years back?, a complete climb down happened.

I've seen this rumour rolling about for years and years and years.
I've never seen anything to make it any closer. If you read some of the clever people out there - there is so many weaknesses in the system.

Right a TCPA compliant non TCPA OS. sort of emulation mode - how does the system stop that?.

Software wouldn't be developed if you had to pay $100000 to get it developed.

What about all the companies that develop there own third party products that there businesses are built on. I mean my company at work does all its own dev work. Hundreds of servers with hundreds of apps. There would be no way we would pay for this.

You'd find that if this came in your make old kit absolutely priceless, until a new computer manufacturer come along and offered non tcpa systems who would make an absolute fortune.

TiG

[eldren]

Taken a look at Windows Media Player 9's EULA recently, have you? And what of the DMCA? Wasn't there a time that that too was considered inconceivable?

[TiG]

Eldren - if you think most of these are legally binding you are a fool.

Microsoft sold licence only product in uk retailers for year, knowing that the terms and conditions on them where completely un-enforcable.

I personally believe that people are really taking a long hard look at what power people like microsoft have over them. Especially like Japan's government who are actively seeking to remove microsoft software from there administration.

There may be good intentions within there proposals but i know that information on those web pages in its current format is crap.

TiG

[Nemeliza]

My computer, i paid for it so i will do with it as i see fit!
Very single minded i know but wot u gona do?!

[Spliff]

Originally posted by TiG
Microsoft sold licence only product in uk retailers for year, knowing that the terms and conditions on them where completely un-enforcable.

Come again? Sounds like an interesting point but I can't make head nor tail of it.

[Knoxville]

they've sold products with terms on the agreement that they can't enforce.

Didn't someone from microsoft admit this a while ago?

[Spliff]

Terms they can't enforce here or in America (or both)?

Are they contrary to statutory rights or some such?

[TiG]

Yep, the t's and c's of the shop sold products was completely against statutory rights, i believe if i remember rightly it was that microsoft retained possession of the product, i think this was in breach of uk law for shop purchased products, or at least as soon as you opened the product you agreed to the terms which isn't valid in this country.

This doesn't count for internet purchased products. I learnt most of this in a module at uni on computing law. One of the more interesting courses especially the computers act. Its amazing how many items of this law you can break without even trying.

TiG

[Bunjiweb]

A system like this would NEVER work and would mean the demise of many companies because of simple lack of sales.

I've had a banner on the foot of my website ( www.HWGuru.com ) for some time now stating that we are against TCPA...

If this system WAS enforced, I for one would take the main companies involved to court straight away ( I am 100% serious ). As it would be a complete breach of my human rights.

Ben

[THCi]

Im totally against it, now I know more about it.

If this TCPA does go through the US congress, it will have more effects than stopping pirated software/mp3s!

See here for a list of some of the devastating effects of TCPA.