Re: The subject line is irrelevant these days

> >> Because it's linked from the open web, and unlike (for example) the
> >> internal network of a corporation, is accessible to anyone. They may not
> >> wish to pay, they may not wish to use the tools needed, of course, but
> >> those are *their* choices.
> > 
> > I can choose to become the customer of an ISP, too.  
> 
> perhaps not such a good example, agreed.

It's not a great example for my position, either.  Perhaps a different
one?

Imagine that the W3C chose to endorse a standard for medical imaging. 
Pages could include an <ctscan> tag that described a manipulable 3D
image in such a way that a browser could render it.  

To start with, say, only Opera* supports that tag - maybe because they
were in close communication with the other companies involved, and got a
head start.  Or maybe it was originally an Opera-only feature, and the
standardization followed.  Either way, the situation is that Opera
contains the only implementation of that standard.

My choices then are: buy Opera, or *write my own implementation*, Free
or otherwise.  The fact that only one implementation currently exists
doesn't preclude anyone with an Internet connection from consuming the
content; the bar is just higher for those who don't choose to use the
existing implementation.

DRM is *fundamentally different* to this.

Replaying that scenario: this time it's a CDM called OperaVision.  Opera
only offers their CDM as a binary blob compiled for Windows, running on
PCs equipped with a special chip.

My choices then are: buy Opera, Windows and a special PC or ... what?  I
can use any EME-compliant browser I choose, but that doesn't help me:
the content is fundamentally broken from the perspective of the open
web.

* not criticizing the Opera folks here, just using them as an example of
a commercial browser producer

-- 
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.

Received on Tuesday, 22 October 2013 22:13:39 UTC