Re: Netflix HTML5 player in IE 11 on Windows 8.1

> Really?  I am not sure it's so.  I know of OMA PDCF (an openly specified
> DRM), ISMACryp (encryption format), DECE common encryption (ditto), Sun's
> open media commons, and so on, and am unaware of any indication that the
> W3C wants to (or needs to) do another.

I think this issue is one of the main areas of disagreement.  I - and
others - maintain that EME *is* a proposal for DRM.  Although it is
technically just an interop protocol between JS and CDMs, it has no
other purpose than for use as a part of a DRM stack.  Therefore - I
contend - to claim that EME is not DRM is sophistry.

> > Put another way, the better alternative on offer is for the W3C to
> > explicitly reject DRM.
> 
> And reject all the content that the owners are unwilling (or unable, for
> contractual reasons) to offer without it.  There is a baby with this
> bathwater, you know.

As John and others have pointed out, the W3C rejecting EME will hardly
stop interested companies from going ahead with it.  In fact, several
have already.  The difference is that the W3C won't have to compromise
its principles and mission.

> No, this is the best balance I have seen actually spelled out. That is
> rather different.  We can ignore the issue, or do the best we can.  This
> reduces the footprint of the problem from a full-on plug-in like Flash,
> to 'just' the DRM.

But it is 'just' the DRM that is the problem!  It will still rely on
proprietary, closed-source, platform-limited, geographically limited
CDMs.

Describing my position as "ignor[ing] the issue" is incorrect.  I am
actually suggesting we pay close attention to the issue, and then
explicitly reject *any* DRM proposal.

An analogy: rather than ignoring the salesman at the door by hiding
inside with the lights off, I'm suggesting we open it and politely ask
him to leave. 

But, as John and others have pointed out, someone has already opened the
door, invited him in, and last I checked he's sat on the couch with his
feet up drinking my beer.

-- 
Duncan Bayne
ph: +61 420817082 | web: http://duncan-bayne.github.com/ | skype:
duncan_bayne

I usually check my mail every 24 - 48 hours.  If there's something
urgent going on, please send me an SMS or call me at the above number.

Received on Sunday, 7 July 2013 05:39:23 UTC