Intel to cut Linux out of the content market 4262

Stan Goodman

Because Microsoft isn't going to roll over and play dead.

I think these are the major blind spots of the Linux community: everything is fine, the GPL will protect us, la-la-la, politics don't matter.

I have little doubt that this is because Linux folk are largely tech oriented and have little understanding of how the world really works. Back room political deals aren't understood by engineering types because engineeering types are usually honest, straight-forward people: everything is on the table, what you see is what you get, say what you mean and mean what you say. If the whole world were like that we'd be better off, but it isn't. The real world is messy, full of lies and intrigue, shifting for position, bribery, double-dealing.. and that's the nice parts.

Microsoft will try to use DRM to weaken Linux. You can bet your bippy that your congress-critters have already been planted with explanations of how important this stuff is to protect the buttets of the rich and powerful.

Maybe the sky isn't falling. But if you don't understand that Microsoft is looking at every possible way to make that happen then you just have your head buried in the sand.

-- Tony Lawrence